CLEVELAND - Jay Murphy, a Tennessee Class AA All-State selection and the starting point guard on the state champion Bolivar Central High basketball team, signed a National Letter of Intent to play for coach Jason Conner and the Delta State University Statesmen this week.  Murphy's signing is the second this period for DSU. 

"Jay Murphy is one of the top players in our region, regardless of level," Conner stated.  "We're pleased he has chosen to pursue his career and degree at Delta State and believe he can make an immediate impact on our program.  He's a hard-nosed point guard with the ability to score from anywhere on the floor."

Murphy's credentials standout almost as much at Bolivar Central's march to the Tennessee Class AA state championship this season.  Under coach Rick Rudesill's direction and Murphy's on-court leadership, BCHS finished 32-4 overall and defeated Liberty Tech 72-62 for the Class AA title.  Murphy finished with 24 points and sank 9-of-10 free throws in the final quarter to preserve the win.

The 6-foot senior finished his final year averaging 14.3 points per game and 5.1 assists, while connecting on 75.7 percent of his free throw attempts (156-of-206).  In his four year career at BCHS, Murphy scored 933 career points and led the Tigers to a 90-24 overall record. 

As a senior, Murphy was named to the Tennessee Class AA All-State Team, State Tournament MVP, District 14-AA MVP, All-District and All-Region Teams, and The Jackson Sun All-West Tennessee First Team. 

He is a four-time All-Region selection for coach Rudesill, while garnering All-District accolades as a sophomore, junior and senior. 

Murphy's talents aren't just evident on the court, the senior finished his high school career with a 3.8 GPA.