Herb Hurley (1990) - Hall of Fame - Murray State University Athletics

Herb Hurley

Induction:
1990

Herb Hurley – Basketball, 1941-1944 (Deceased)

Herb Hurley was one of the early greats in Murray State basketball history. A three-year regular at both guard and forward from 1941-44, Hurley helped lead Murray to back-to-back small-college national tournament appearances in 1942 and 1943.

Hurley was characterized as a fine all-around player who excelled at all facets of the game. Though a top-notch scorer, Hurley concentrated on defense when teamed with fellow Hall of Famer Joe Fulks. In Fulks’ two years at MSU, Hurley became a fearsome defensive stopper and was usually assigned to guard the opposing team’s best player.

When Fulks left the team for the military in 1943, MSU Hall of Fame coach John Miller looked to Hurley to take over team scoring duties. Serving as team captain, Hurley averaged a career-high 12.0 points per game, the 12^th-best average anyone had ever produced at the time.

Hurley finished his career at the 17^th-highest scorer in Murray State history, scoring 389 points in 60 games. Murray State recorded a 44-18 record with him on the varsity. He went on to briefly play professional basketball in the early years of the National Basketball Association with the Philadelphia Warriors. (MSU Sports Information)

“When I dribbled in here from Missouri, Herb Hurley was the standard by which all basketball players were measured,” Reagan said of Hurley, who played basketball at Murray State from 1941-1944. “Nobody did it better than Herb Hurley.”

Hurley, a native of Marshall County, was a backcourt mate of Joe Fulks, another Marshall product and MSU standout who played professional basketball and is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

“Joe Fulks was the greatest player I played against and was the greatest player I ever played with,” Hurley said. “I wish they were two people who could be here with me tonight, my father and Joe Fulks. I thank Murray State and the athletic department for this honor.” (The Murray Ledger & Times, October 26, 1990, By David Ramey)