Jamal Murray breaks down after Kentucky’s tourney-ending loss

Ballyhooed freshmen likely to spend less than a year on campus are often described as soulless mercenaries just using college as a mandatory training ground before they sprint to the NBA Draft.

Whether it’s due to general antipathy for John Calipari or envy over the Wildcats’ continued ability to churn out lottery pick after lottery pick, Kentucky freshmen are particularly maligned.

After Saturday’s second-round elimination at the hands of Indiana, freshman Jamal Murray didn’t look like a guy who was only interested in training for the draft. The five-star shooting guard from Toronto broke down in front of his locker, stating that his play wasn’t enough to down the Hoosiers.

Remember this when you hear someone say that one-and-done players don’t care about their time in college. #BBN pic.twitter.com/64TfI28Rsx

— T.J. Beisner (@Beisner_cn2) March 20, 2016

DraftExpress has Murray pegged as the seventh pick in their latest mock, based on the merits of his blue-chip pedigree and an incredibly productive season in Lexington where he averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, including a 40 percent mark from three.

For members of Big Blue Nation looking for a silver lining to today’s darkness, Murray didn’t completely close the door on returning for his sophomore year despite his status as a lottery pick lock.

“I don’t know what happens now,” Murray told Courier-Journal reporter Kyle Tucker after the loss. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”

The deadline for early entry to the NBA Draft is April 24.