Modesto Christian sophomore forward suffers season-ending knee injury

The Modesto Christian High School boys basketball team was dealt a big blow over the weekend.

Sophomore forward George Murphy was lost for the season after breaking his kneecap during a scrimmage at Ripon High. The 6-foot-5 Murphy sustained the non-contact injury during the first minute of the scrimmage.

First-year Crusaders coach Brice Fantazia described a horrific scene.

“It was pretty disgusting,” said Fantazia, a former player and assistant coach under Richard Midgley, now in a scouting position with the Atlanta Hawks. “It looked like there was a hole in his knee. We thought he blew his knee out. Fortunately, there’s no structural damage.”

Murphy was projected to start in the frontcourt alongside older brother Gabe Murphy, a fast-rising junior recruit. The younger Murphy, who has grown 5 inches in the last year, is one of nine underclassmen on Fantazia’s roster.

“He’s a kid who can go inside and outside,” Fantazia said.

News of his injury spread quickly through social media.

Beyer boys basketball coach Kyle McKim offered his program’s best wishes, reaching out to Gabe Murphy on Twitter: “Prayers for your brother on our end.”

New assistant coach Greg Rosenbaum tweeted a picture of George Murphy in a hospital bed, ice pack over his injured knee: “Prayers up for (Murphy) who went down with an injury today! Keep your head up you got plenty of time left!”

Murphy also tweeted “I will be back” and “I may be out but my soldiers still gon (sic) eat.”

Modesto Christian has appeared in back-to-back CIF Northern California Open Division finals, but suffered massive graduation losses. Six players off last season’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title team are playing college basketball this winter, including All-District co-Players of the Year Christian Ellis (Southern Illinois Edwardsville) and Robinson Idehen (Western Kentucky).

George Murphy was part of the next wave of talent. The Modesto Christian junior varsity team went 23-4 last season and 13-1 in Modesto Metro Conference play. Murphy was called up for the varsity team’s run at section and state titles.

He appeared in two games, making 1 of 2 free throws with a rebound.

“My little bro gonna come back stronger than ever,” tweeted Gabe Murphy. “Until then, keep praying for him, appreciate y’all.”

With George Murphy out, Fantazia said he’ll need even more leadership and production from senior guard Darrian Grays and juniors Tyler Williams and Gabe Murphy, Idehen’s backup last season.

Grays is Modesto Christian’s top returning scorer. He averaged 7.3 points and made a team-high 45 3-pointers. He also averaged 1.8 assists.

Williams averaged 5.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in 24 games, while Gabe Murphy averaged 2.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in limited minutes.

“Darrian, when he’s on the floor, he calms the other guys,” Fantazia said. “We have a lot of young talent. Here in the next year or two, we’ll be back. This year may be tough, but I think we’ll still be OK.”

Modesto Christian is ranked No. 11 by NorCalPreps.com.

This story was originally published November 22, 2016 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Modesto Christian sophomore forward suffers season-ending knee injury."