Expectations at 20th and Olney will be pretty high this winter — probably about as high as they’ve been since the end of the Lionel Simmons-Doug Overton-Randy Woods era back in the early 1990s. While we’re still not convinced the Explorers will be an NCAA team come March, they definitely have something they haven’t had in a looooong time in freshman Aaric Murray: a quality big man. And that will likely count for something. Exactly what, however, remains to be seen. More after the jump.

Murray, of course, spurned offers from some big-time programs to play at La Salle. And his path to Division I college basketball has certainly been anything but ordinary, according to this story by Rivals.com. For one thing, Murray came to the game late. For another, his high school is one for court-adjudicated boys, though it does sound like Murray’s worst transgression had been truancy, and that he long ago had put such immature behavior behind him. And Murray picked La Salle because he “wanted to make [his] own path.” Which is somewhat admirable.

We saw him play last year on two occasions, both of which were playoff games. Both times, he registered double-doubles, and the game came quite easily to him — as well it should, considering he’s been tabbed as a top-notch recruit and in both instances when we were there, he was going against Bucks County high schools and was at least six or seven inches taller than the player who was guarding him. We wondered if he was bored at times, which, considering his scholarship prospects were already assured, perhaps he was.

It’s obvious that, despite much of the hype, there’s still something mysterious about Murray’s true ability. But then again, isn’t that true of any 18-year-old whose pedigree is being judged well before he ever sets foot on campus, let alone after he encounters all the pressures and distractions that go with being in college?

Here’s more from the Rivals story:

How much he can help immediately remains uncertain. Murray’s relative lack of AAU experience makes him the biggest mystery of any top-50 prospect in this freshman class. Murray weighs about 245 pounds and realizes he must gain strength to deal with the grind of a college season.

As long as he can handle the physical demands, Murray’s wide array of skills should make him a quality performer. Murray is a better ballhandler than most players of his size. He’s a solid shooter who even made the occasional 3-pointer in all-star game settings. He also is a good shot blocker.

It’s as much a negative as it is a positive for Murray that La Salle is counting on him to instantly make a difference. The schedule, after all, includes December games against Kansas (the likely No. 1 team in the country), Oklahoma State and Villanova, so he’ll experience something of a baptism by fire. But right now, anyway, he offers La Salle something else that’s been missing since its L-train-era salad days: hope.

Hat tip to reader Dan for passing along the Rivals story. We’re glad you’re reading us, Dan.

Links: Murray’s own path to 20th and Olney [Rivals.com]
La Salle’s 2009-10 schedule [BIG FIVE POST]