LEXINGTON, KY - In front of an adoring crowd of more than 24,000 screaming fans at "Big Blue Madness,” the University of Kentucky's season-opening basketball practice that is more pep rally than hardcore basketball clinic, John Calipari began the festivities in a way that only he could.

Following a laser show that left fans screaming, and player introductions accompanied by fireworks (this is Kentucky, after all), Calipari began reeling off the names of all the great players who have ever played at the school. He mentioned guys who starred prior to his arrival, names like Pat Riley, Jamal Mashburn and Rajon Rondo before he then turned his attention to all the stars who've played under him since he arrived in 2009; names like John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein.

As each named was called, the crowd screamed louder, before pausing briefly, only so Calipari could rattle off the next name.

Finally, he finished his speech with one simple question: "Who's next?"

It's a question that every high school star across the globe hopes that Calipari will one day answer with their name, but for Kitchener, Ont., native Jamal Murray, he actually is "next" at Kentucky. The 6-foot-5 combo guard, who led Canada to a silver medal at this summer's Pan American Games, and also won the MVP of both the Nike Hoop Summit and BioSteel All-Canadian Basketball Game, made his Kentucky debut on Friday night. And he did not disappoint.

If anything, he showed what Calipari predicted earlier this week at the team's media day: That he is a multi-skilled player who will bring a number of different skills to the table for the Wildcats.

"Jamal is a combination guard," Calipari told reporters on Wednesday. "We need him to score baskets and create havoc. He's 6'5". He has ways of getting balls in the basket left and right hand. As a matter of fact, he shoots three-pointers as well lefty as he does righty."

For starters, this reporter can attest that Murray is in fact ambidextrous, and showed off the skill following a closed-door practice on Thursday. ESPN broadcaster Fran Fraschilla even shared a picture on Twitter for proof.

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As for Friday night's practice, Murray showed a full range of skills (minus left-handed jumpers) that have fans both in the United States and Canada so excited.

Big Blue Madness began with a three-on-three scrimmage Friday night, where Murray not only stood out, but at times dominated. Most impressively he didn't just do it against the average, run-of-the-mill collegiate team, but instead another loaded Kentucky squad that includes projected first-round picks Skal Labissiere, and guards Tyler Ulis and Isaiah Briscoe.

And despite all that talent, Murray might have been the best player on the court. His night began with a deep three from several feet behind the arc which left the crowd "oooing" and "ahhing," and just a few possessions later did the exact opposite; taking a defender off the dribble, to his right, before finishing with a left-handed layup.

By the end of the three-on-three portion, Murray was scoring on virtually every possession. The offensive display impressed the crowd, even if it didn't surprise his teammates.

"Jamal can score the ball anytime he wants," Ulis, a sophomore who backed up current Memphis Grizzly Andrew Harrison last year, said. "When he gets hot, he's hot. He can score the ball really well."

The team then moved to a five-on-five portion, which showed yet another side of Murray, who was mostly deferential, while playing with what amounted to Kentucky's projected starting five. Even with Ulis (another true point guard) on his team, Murray was the primary ball-handler, setting up other players, specifically Labissiere in the post.

But with that said, Murray was able to score when needed in the five-on-five setting as well. He hit a quick, step-back jumper in the face of Briscoe (a McDonald's All-American and Top 20 recruit last year), before displaying unquestionably his nicest move of the night, when he took a quick stutter-step, blew past a defender on the left baseline, before jumping and laying the ball under with his right hand.

It left the crowd in a frenzy, and one of the most prominent members of the Kentucky media already comparing him to a former Wildcats' legend, and current NBA All-Star.

"Jamal Murray will be the best UK perimeter player since John Wall," said Matt Jones, who hosts "KSR Radio," the most popular radio show in the state of Kentucky.

Those are heady expectations, especially for a program that has produced future NBA players like Brandon Knight, Marquis Teague, Devin Booker and the Harrison Twins since then.

However they seem realistic for Murray, who many outlets are projecting as both an All-American this winter, and a Top 5 NBA pick next spring.

Yet despite those preseason accolades, Murray is taking it all in stride as he begins his Kentucky career.

"(I'm just trying to) play the way that Coach Cal wants me to play," Murray said earlier in the week. "Lots of shots, limited turnovers, good defence and just learn from Cal."

Based on what we saw on Friday night, he is more than on his way.

Aaron Torres covers college basketball and college football for FoxSports.com. In addition to his work with Fox, Aaron has also had his work featured by Sports Illustrated and Slam Online. He has also appeared as a college basketball expert on a handful of nationally syndicated radio shows, and has served as a show writer for Fox Sports Live since 2013. Aaron is also the author of the Amazon.com best-seller 'The Unlikeliest Champion: The Incredible Story of the UConn Huskies and their run to the 2011 College Basketball National Championship.'

Follow him on Twitter @Aaron_Torres.