Western Kentucky landed an early pledge from 2021 Birmingham (AL) Ramsay forward Keshawn Murphy on Friday, he told HoopSeen.com. He also announced his commitment via Twitter.

"Western Kentucky is a great fit for me," Murphy explained following his announcement. "They also have one of the best guards in the nation already committed with Zion Harmon."

At 6-foot-9, Murphy has one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in the South. The long, slender forward is extremely skilled for his size and is a legitimate stretch 4 big man that can extend his range out to the three-point line. His length and shot-blocking ability is another strong attribute that will benefit he and his teammates on the defensive end of the floor. However, Murphy's fluidity and versatility at this point in his career make him very unique and an intriguing long-term prospect going forward.

Murphy, the No.2 overall prospect in the 2021 HoopSeen Alabama Rankings, averaged 18.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and two blocks per contest as he led Ramsay to the 5A Final Four this season. He was also named 5A first-team All-State during his junior campaign. 

Rick Stansbury and the Hilltoppers did an impressive job of recruiting Murphy and landing his commitment this early. He also had scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, and UAB, among others. 

Former Troy head coach Phil Cunningham and assistant coach Marcus Grant, both who are now assistants on Stansbury's staff at WKU, played a major role in Murphy's recruitment.

Murphy and Harmon give the Hilltoppers a dynamic two-man start to the 2021 recruiting class. They are involved with several other top prospects around the country.