Farmingdale basketball team remembers fallen student

There will be a solemn beginning to the start of basketball practice at Farmingdale State following Monday night's death of top freshman recruit Dominic Murray. The 17-year-old graduate of McClancy High School in East Elmhurst collapsed during an informal pickup game nearly a week before his first college practice.

"Practice was originally scheduled to start Oct. 15," coach Erik Smiles said Wednesday. "I don't know what's going to happen now. We met with the guys yesterday and said 'Whenever you guys are ready to start, we'll start.' "

Smiles was in Nold Hall, where the team plays its home basketball games, when Murray was stricken. "We have open gym every night and our guys play pickup ball as any other team does," Smiles said.

Farmingdale co-captain Terrence Howard, a friend of Murray's since childhood, was on the court with him. "I saw him fall, I ran to him and asked what's wrong," he said. "I could see in his face the way he fell, it wasn't due to injury. He made a noise like he was gasping. I called my coach, I said 'Come, help.' "

Smiles said, "I ran over and did CPR." There was no response and Murray was taken by ambulance to New Island Hospital in Bethpage, where he was pronounced dead. The Nassau County medical examiner's office is investigating.

Smiles said Murray, along with every other player, had already had a preseason physical. "An entire cardio work-up, a stress test, he passed everything," the coach said.

Murray had been expected to play a major role for Farmingdale, an NCAA Tournament team last season. The 6-2 guard had received a scholarship offer from Division II Mercy in Dobbs Ferry but decided to attend D-III Farmingdale. "He said, 'Coach I want to come to Farmingdale,' " Smiles said. "He was a Division II player who could have played at Dowling, Molloy, Adelphi."

Mercy assistant coach Adam Parmenter, who recruited Murray, said, "I had seen Dominic grow as a player through his high school years. The sky was the limit for this young man."

Mike Campbell, Farmingdale's other captain, said Murray had become popular with his new teammates. "He was a good, fun-loving kid, always had a smile on his face walking through campus," he said. "We had a team meeting and we decided the season will be dedicated to him. He loved to play basketball and we will play it for him."