BCC hoop legend Kenyon Murray sees his twin boys follow in his footsteps and head to Iowa

Almost 30 years ago, Kenyon Murray was in the middle of an All-American basketball career at Battle Creek Central.

He had a tough decision to make as to where to go to college. He would eventually decide on the University of Iowa.

A generation later, his twin sons are following in his footsteps.

On Monday, Keegan and Kris Murray announced they would wear the same black and gold uniform that their father did and committed to play at Iowa.

MORE: Murray is the No. 1 player ever at Battle Creek Central basketball

"To have them decide to go to Iowa, it was pretty cool," Kenyon Murray said via the phone from his home in Iowa. "They had a goal to play college basketball and to see them achieve that goal was the proudest moment I could have as a dad. For it to be at Iowa, was just the icing on the cake."

The name Murray is still legendary in Battle Creek, as he is the only player from the area to be named Mr. Basketball -- having won the award in 1992 -- and is still the school's all-time leading scorer.

But the name Murray is also recognizable in Iowa, especially on the Iowa campus, as he was a four-year player at the school from 1992-96. He graduated as No. 12 on the program's career scoring list and he set records for steals.

So as prospects, the Murray twins, had Iowa on their short list of schools they wanted to go to.

"Feels like a dream come true,” Kris Murray told the Cedar Rapids Gazette. “It’s pretty cool going to school where my dad played. It was the best decision for me.”

Both players earned All-State honors at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School and are currently playing at a prep school in Florida as they finished up their recruitment.

"When Iowa said they would take both of us, we jumped on that opportunity ... It’s special to go where my dad did, but I want to create my own legacy,” Keegan Murray told the Gazette.

Both around 6-foot-8, taller than their dad, they have games that center around their standout athletic ability and shooting the ball. Keegan averaged 20.3 points a game and 7.2 rebounds in high school, with Kris getting 18.4 points a game and 6.3 rebounds.

"A year ago, they hadn't grown into their bodies yet, hadn't put on weight, and we were thinking they would go the Division 2 route and my wife and I were OK with that because they would still be living their dream and that's all we wanted for them," Kenyon Murray said. "But in the past year, they grew a bit more and Iowa came in and recruited both of them and they had a chance to make their dream of going to Iowa come true.

"As a player, I was a bit more explosive and could jump higher. But they are a bit taller and their basketball IQ is way better than mine was at that time, and they can shoot better than I ever could."

Since Kenyon Murray has stayed in Iowa since he left Battle Creek, he is still part of the Hawkeye family.

"There's a lot of people in the athletic office that are still there from when I played, so it will feel comfortable for the boys," Murray said. "The boys have grown up in the shadow of Carver-Hawkeye Arena and now that they get to play there, it is a dream come true."

Contact Bill Broderick (269) 966-0678 or bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter @billbroderick