Quince Orchard Students Use Analytics to Predict Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray as an NBA Star

Using Analytics to Predict an NBA Star

Jamal Murray, a breakout star for the Denver Nuggets, made NBA history with his electrifying performances in the 2020 Playoffs. The 23-year-old guard from Ontario, Canada, became the youngest player in NBA postseason history—outside of LeBron James—to score 40 points in a game.

 

Murray delivered an unforgettable series against the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers. He erupted for 50 points in Games 4 and 6, dropped 42 in Game 5, and sealed Denver’s Game 7 victory over the Clippers with another 40-point masterpiece. His efficiency was staggering, posting a True Shooting Percentage (TS%) of 68.2%—a testament to his elite scoring ability. The NBA had officially found its next star.

Months earlier, in January 2020, the Quince Orchard High School (QOHS) Sports Analytics Club (MD) had already recognized Murray’s rising potential. Using data-driven insights, the club produced a SACP Research Report advocating for Murray’s selection to the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. The report compared Murray’s performance metrics to other elite guards, notably Utah’s Donovan Mitchell. Despite not making the All-Star roster, Murray’s playoff explosion validated the students’ analysis, as he led the Nuggets past the Jazz and into the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

 

The Quince Orchard students, guided by STEM teacher Michael Schweizer and George Mason University Professor Ralph Romanelli, applied advanced sports analytics to predict Murray’s breakout. Their research report, which was shared with Denver Nuggets Assistant GM Tommy Balcetis, provided strong analytical support for Murray’s All-Star candidacy. Witnessing their predictions come true not only reinforced their passion for data science but also inspired them to explore careers in this rapidly growing field.

 

From high school analysts to NBA front-office collaborators, these students saw firsthand how data science can shape the game—and they got to celebrate as their forecasted star became a reality.