WAU SHOCK BIDS FAREWELL TO HOMEGROWN BASKETBALL STARS

   

Takoma Park, MD—Amid anticipation for the Shock’s 2023-2024 Men’s Basketball season this fall, a bittersweet feeling lingers in the locker room as the team prepares to step onto the court without two pillars of their lineup. Star basketball players and Takoma Academy (TA) alumni Freddy Liriano and Ethan Murphy have officially stepped away from WAU basketball, leaving behind them a legacy that will live on for years.

Murphy’s initial plan to enroll at Oakwood University in 2017 took an unexpected turn when a call from then-TA Coach Jerry McFarland altered his course. With McFarland set to become the assistant coach for Shock that same year, Murphy switched gears and opted for WAU instead. Liriano joined his former high school teammate the following year, setting into motion what would become one of the most successful two-player tenures in team history.

Having played under the mentorship of Coach McFarland at TA before joining the Shock, Liriano and Murphy decided to stay local after graduating—a move that has earned them the nickname “Carroll Ave. kids,” a reference to the street that connects WAU with its high school affiliate. Athletics Director Jered Lyons stresses WAU’s commitment to continue recruiting efforts at TA, stating, “If we can continue to create the TA-WAU pipeline for talented Adventist student-athletes, that would be great.”

The “Carroll Ave. Kids” wasted no time establishing themselves as Shock stars. Liriano finished his college career with an impressive 88-40 record, the best in WAU Men’s Basketball history over a four-year playing career. Murphy played alongside Liriano for most of his tenure but sat out his sophomore year due to an injury.

The duo have nearly a decade of teammate experience under their belt, making for exceptional chemistry on the court. Liriano paints this connection as more than teammates, describing it as a brotherhood. “I’ve been literally playing with him in the same lineup since my freshman year of high school.”

This chemistry doesn’t just halt at the Liriano-Murphy axis. Both players emphasized the brotherly dynamics both on the court and around campus. When asked about his biggest takeaway from his time at WAU, Murphy said, “It’s the camaraderie that I’ve built with a lot of people from different walks of life. I really learned how to be a leader. Being a captain and being a part of a team, I learned how to communicate, to be a leader and to be disciplined in a group setting.”

Among the accomplishments of the homegrown Shock stars are two wins against NCAA Division 1 teams, Howard University and Delaware State University. Yet, while the two homegrown athletes will undoubtedly be remembered for their basketball stardom, the Shock’s coaching staff and teammates emphasize the legacy of leadership they left on the court and in the classroom.

“Both have been exemplary … in terms of excelling in leadership, being impactful leaders, in our commitment to excellence, both athletically, academically and socially,” said Coach McFarland. “They both have been an integral part of the leadership that we’ve established since I’ve been here. They also really helped the transition in terms of me going from the assistant coach to the head coach here at WAU.” 

The shift to college life isn’t always easy for freshmen. Liriano and Murphy were no exception, acknowledging the learning curve of transitioning to WAU—a “focus challenge,” as Liriano puts it.

“When you get to college, it’s kind of like, ‘do it on your own,’’’ Liriano said. “Get your shots up on your own, come to practice early, so there’s a few focus details. And then, there’s completing the school work, obviously.”

“Being a college athlete is hard because you have to manage your time and be a good student. But then, also you have two workouts a day, practices, traveling,” Murphy added. “So, your body is fatigued, but you have to keep up with your work.”

Driven by his relentless work ethic, Murphy draws inspiration from a quote from NBA player Kevin Durant: “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” 

“The main thing for me was to get out of my own head because I came in with the expectation to play right away,” Murphy added. “But once I realized that that wasn’t the case, I had to humble myself and ask the coach what he needs me to do, and whatever he needs me to do, I’m gonna hone in on that.”

Liriano will be back on the court at WAU this year as a member of the Shock’s coaching staff. Murphy’s plans to play professional basketball in Europe came to a halt after conflicts arose regarding the Sabbath, but his dream is to develop a basketball camp for children.