Auckland, New Zealand, native Taine Murray took a chance on himself and his goals when he committed to UVA.
It was in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, and his decision would have to be made without ever stepping foot on Grounds, as the entire recruitment process for UVA’s Men’s Basketball team transpired virtually. His commitment to study at and play for the University was made sight unseen—and a long, long way from home—but it was a challenge he embraced with optimism and determination.
“Since I never actually got to take my official visits at UVA in person, it was quite a leap of faith at the time for myself and my family,” Murray recalls. “But it’s one I’m super blessed with and how it all worked out, as I was fortunate enough to come here on a scholarship to play basketball for Coach Bennett and experience so many amazing things.”
That experience paid off in many ways—not the least of which is a future where he’ll remain on the basketball court.
Synchronizing Commerce Studies and Sports
Murray’s exceptional time management skills and commitment to the rigors of academic life made balancing the demanding schedule of a Commerce student-athlete possible.
He acknowledges that “McIntire is a very prestigious academic school, and being a part of the basketball team was something for which I had to manage my time efficiently,” so he quickly learned to adeptly coordinate his McIntire obligations while ensuring he fulfilled his athletic commitments. He’s thankful that his professors and peers alike were accommodating and allowed him to Zoom into classes and student group meetings when necessitated by road games. His engagement with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee also provided invaluable insights into collegiate athletics and governance.
Murray’s decision to pursue a concentration in Management with a track in Global Commerce at McIntire was driven by his innate interest in both areas. “Growing up, I definitely was better with numbers and math. I had a real passion for maths, so I think that probably sparked some of it. I’ve always been just interested in the real-life application of business. It can be directly related to so many things,” he says. Knowing that he would have to apply separately to get into McIntire was a challenge he embraced: “I was well aware that it was an application process and something that you had to really commit to—but it was something I really wanted to be a part of.”
Through his Integrated Core classes, Murray came into contact with influential professors and helpful peers, studying under Professor Ryan Nelson and Professor Gary Ballinger, which proved particularly transformative, encouraging robust participation and reinforcing the importance of group collaboration. Though he insists that all of his professors were incredibly supportive, he also mentions Professor Paul Seaborn, with whom he’s completed an independent study on the business of Name, Image, and Likeness in college sports with three other students. “I’ve been in two of his classes now, which has been awesome; I love him as a professor and the passion he brings every day,” he says.
A Different Path
Up next for Murray? Professional basketball.
He’s very recently signed a two-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets, a team in Australia’s National Basketball League, who smartly acquired his services on the court. Having connected with an agent, Daniel Moldovan, who has helped him fulfill his aspirations of playing basketball professionally, he’s now going to be relocating to a city relatively closer to his hometown.
“Brisbane’s vision for the future really stood out to me—it’s a club that’s building something strong and competitive,” says Murray in a press release about the signing. “I’m ready to embrace the challenge, keep developing my game, and contribute in any way I can to help this team win.”
Though he expects to continue shooting hoops and doesn’t plan to immediately utilize his business degree in what might be a more traditional McIntire student career path, Murray is keen on combining his love for sports with the education he’s received. Despite his athletic plans, he believes his Comm School education stands to play a critical role in his future endeavors; he points out that the skills he honed in communication, cultural adaptation, and negotiation are invaluable assets in the world of pro sports. “Having to meet so many new people from different cultures and create relationships when we’ve been doing our coursework and going through the McIntire experience has really expanded my horizons,” he says.
At semester’s end, Murray will have celebrated with his family, who visited Grounds from Aukland to attend Final Exercises. Shortly afterwards, he’ll head to his agent’s headquarters in Los Angeles, where he’ll begin training before joining his new team in Brisbane.
As he continues to follow his hoop dreams, Murray is equally upbeat about the diverse futures of all of those he’s met along the way at the Comm School. “That’s a cool thing about McIntire: Everyone’s going in so many different directions after graduation. I’m really excited to follow all that they do,” he shares.
