This weekend in Toronto is the Jane and Finch tournament. It was two years ago at the Jane and Finch tourney where 2016 Jamal Murray of Kitchener, ON broke out on the scene nationally after his sizzling performance doing this, that and the third from everywhere on the court.

Formerly a member of the Waterloo Wolverines, at the Jane and Finch tournament he cemented his stock at the top of the 2016 class with a championship performance in a CIA Bounce uniform.

Since then the former Grand River Collegiate student has never looked back. Prestigious camps, playing up an age division with CIA Bounce in the Nike EYBL league, and he even switched schools moving to the Athlete Institute in Orangeville, ON where he has been groomed both on and off the court for what his future holds.

Speaking to Murray’s father Roger (photographed in the middle of the feature image above), we tackled topics that everybody wants to know. Hoops Hype Canada wouldn’t want it any other way.

One-on-One with Roger Murray:

Sonny: Mr. Murray, forget basketball for a second. People all over the country are saying it’s too good to be true that Athlete Institute is a perfect fit for student-athletes not only on the court but off of it in the classroom. Your son Jamal switched schools last fall, decided to take his talents to Orangeville, ON. What are your thoughts about the education aspect at Athlete Institute?

Roger: I think it’s a very good for athletes, Jamal included. I think it’s a very good program their putting on up there in Orangeville for the Canadian kids to compete and have a chance to put in work academically. The help is there for them. That’s what you want coming up as a young student-athlete to keep your grades up and still progress your basketball career and get to the next level basically.

Sonny: Lots of debate about Jamal’s position of preference. Some barber shops say he is a point guard, others that he is better suited focusing on scoring at shooting guard. Your opinion?

Roger: I leave it to everybody else to decide that. To me he is just a basketball player that can play. You can put him in the one, in the two, you can put him at the three if you want to and he will still produce. Basically, I just taught him how to play basketball. I seen him as a one coming up. Now he’s a good shooter and with his size it draws questions whether he’s a one or a two butI gues syou can say he is a combo guard. He can play both positions

Sonny: Another stigma attached to Jamal is that for post secondary school he has a desire to play close to home. Eliminating schools outside of say Western New York or the state of Michigan. True or False?

Roger: He’s open to everything and anything. As long as it fits what were looking for he’s open to it. I think every kid would like to stay close to home a little bit. Anywhere he fit’s doesn’t matter if it’s far or not he’ll go. He’s looking for a good education and a good program to just play basketball.

Sonny: Any schools recruiting Jamal the hardest at the moment?

Roger: Indiana is showing some serious interest right now. Michigan, Michigan State a bunch of them, I mean they all are calling.

Sonny: Lots of talk Ohio State, also in the building today is very fond of Jamal. Has Thad Motta and company been in hot pursuit?

Roger: I have to check my papers but I think so.

Sonny: How about this 2014-15 season. Jamal is pegged to be that first high major talent to graduate at Athlete Institute and land at a high major D1 program. People have called him a pioneer because he’s getting national attention in America but he’s attending high school in Canada. Others are saying Brewster Academy is a possibility will he return to Athlete Institute in the fall?

Roger: I would probably say yes for now however I don’t put a definite on anything. We just have to wait on how the recruitment goes and how the future looks to basically make a decision.

Sonny: Last but not least I have to touch on the 519. He’s nicknamed Mr. 519 because never have we witnessed a player of his caliber come out of the Waterloo region. Now you got Coach Lyles and the Wolverines producing D1 talent like Tesloth Simon for example and there is more on the way. Before your own eyes how has the 519 turned the corner?

Roger: Yes it`s growing, kid`s see what is happening. All over the younger kids in the 519 right now they can see a movement. Jamal being from there they know what he`s doing right now so he`s inspired the interest and the intensity of wanting to play more basketball. Seeing they can do it too if they are willing to put the time in.

There you have it. A busy month ahead for Jamal Murray, decisions to be made but first off international duty with Canada at the 2014 U17 World Championships in Dubai beginning August 8th.

For updates on Murray’s career and Team Canada in Dubai follow Hoops Hype Canada on twitter at @HoopsHypeCA