On February 16th, Cary Academy students, faculty, alumni, and special guests gathered to celebrate the retirement of Trey Murphy III’s jersey. This celebration marked not only his exceptional talent on the court, but also his journey from our high school team to playing in the NBA for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Trey Murphy III, a Cary Academy ’18 graduate, demonstrated significant dedication and talent throughout his high school career. With his relentless work ethic, he left an unforgettable mark on our basketball program. As a senior, Trey averaged 24.7 points per game shooting 49.4 percent from the floor, 43.6 from the 3-point range, and 85.8 from the free-throw line. He is Cary Academy’s all-time leader in field goals, three-pointers, and free throws made.

The atmosphere buzzed as our community came together to honor Trey. Emotions ran high as speakers took the podium to share anecdotes, memories, and words of admiration for Trey’s character and talent. Coach Perkins, a coach of the basketball team at the time, describes how Trey always had “the goal of being the best he could be,” and Trey continued to exemplify this as he worked his way up to the NBA.

After the speakers, Trey stepped up to the microphone to offer some words to the community. Trey tells us how he is here to be an inspiration to the youth. He shares how “whatever you can put your mind to, you can do it.” He admits that just a few years ago, he thought it would be crazy to think that he would ever be in the position he is in today. However, he shares that “it’s ok to be a little crazy, to dream big.” Trey expressed his gratitude to his coaches, teammates, family, and friends for their unwavering support throughout his journey and reminds us that with dedication, hard work, and a little bit of “craziness,” we can achieve our goals.

Way to go, Trey!