Murphy – Bulldogs basketball alum Abram Abling signed with Pfieffer University on June 7.
Abling was a four-year varsity player for Murphy, scoring more than 1,700 points during his high school career. In 2021, he led the team in scoring for the third straight year, averaging 22.1 points per game.
Abling’s four assists per game were also a team high, and his five rebounds per game were second on the team behind fellow senior Dawson Hensley. He’s a three-time All-Smoky Mountain Conference player, and last season he was voted first team All-District as well as selected to play in the East-West All-Star game.
Murphy finished with a 10-5 record overall record and 8-4 record in the Big Smoky Mountain Conference, its first winning record since the 2017-18 season and its first winning record in conference play since 2010-11. The Bulldogs lost to eventual state runner-up Lincoln Charter 91-49 in the first round of the state 1A playoffs.
Abling was one of eight seniors on Murphy’s team this year, which means the Bulldogs will have a lot to replace when they take the court this winter. Reinforcements may be on the way though, as Murphy’s junior varsity team won the conference championship.