A major coaching move is shaking up the Mississippi high school basketball scene. Shane Murphree, the architect of a historic turnaround at Thrasher, is departing to become the new head girls basketball coach at Myrtle, replacing Ron Wilson.

Murphree's impact at Thrasher was nothing short of remarkable. When he took over the girls' program before the 2021-22 season, the team had managed only two wins in the previous six years. He engineered a stunning reversal of fortune, culminating in a storybook run to the state championship game in the 2024-25 season—a first for the school—which earned him Daily Journal Girls Coach of the Year honors.

Now, he sets his sights on revitalizing another program. For Murphree, the move to Myrtle is also a homecoming. A 1998 graduate of West Union Attendance Center in Union County, he grew up competing against the Hawks and has long admired their tradition. "I'm excited to be going to Myrtle with the tradition that they have there," Murphree said. "To be able to go back closer to home is big for me."

He inherits a Myrtle team that finished 13-14 last season, placing second in its region before a first-round playoff exit. The Hawks have a proud history, with their last state championship coming in 2003 and their most recent title game appearance in 2011. Murphree believes the foundation for a new era is already in place. "I feel like right now they've got a lot of good young talent that I'm thrilled to get the chance to work with," he noted.

His blueprint for success focuses on culture and daily improvement. Murphree aims to build a team that energizes the community, one defined by hard work, unity, and discipline. "I think we're going to have to just focus on the present, on getting better every day," he stated, emphasizing his goal to return the Hawks to the top of Class 2A basketball. It's a new chapter for both a proven coach and a program eager to reclaim its championship pedigree.