SC NATIVE JA MORANT
FROM Crestwood too Murray State to getting drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies. Hard work, Dedication, Sprinkled with a Lil bit of God's GRACE got Ja Morant to where he is today.
Morant, was underrated during his High School career. The guard averaged 27 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists per game throughout his junior and senior years and being a three-time All-Region MVP.
Even with the growth of his game, Morant only received one Power 5 school offer from USC but Murray State would draw his attention after offering him a full ride.
A scholarship that almost didn't happen. When A Murray State Basketball Coach went to grab something to eat. He heard a ball bouncing. Little did he know, what he would stumbled upon was Murray State's next leading scorer, Ja Morant!
"I ordered some Doritos and a soda. I was able to hear the ball bouncing and I went to the gym. After just a few minutes of watching Ja, you just knew he was special. I called my boss right away and said, 'you gotta come up here and see this kid."
The rest was history. In the Fall Ja Morant would enroll at Murray State where he would go on to fine-tune his skills, break several NCAA records, and help the Racers win multiple OVC championships. From Sumter to Kentucky to Memphis. After just his second season with the Racers. Ja Morant would go on to declare for the NBA draft. Where' he would be, drafted in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies with the second pick.
Morant took the league by storm, getting high praise from various Superstars to Stamping his name in the league by winning the Rookie of the year award and NBA All-Rookie first-team honors.
He received 99 first-place votes from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Led all rookies in assists with an average of 7.1 assists per game, as well as total points scored, with 1,138 (17.8 points per game)
JA on winning Rookie of the Year in 2019-20
Morant praised his father, Tee Morant for instilling hard work in him. The Hill Crest standout put his son through difficult drills in their backyard to prepare him for the NBA!
"It's been tough,"
"At a young age, jumping those tires wasn't fun. I used to be kind of mad. But honestly, it all paid off. My dad had the opportunity to play professionally and turned it down to stay and raise me."
In year two Morant would lead the Memphis Grizzlies back to the postseason, for the first time since 2016-17, by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA play-in the tournament. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies would fall to the Utah Jazz in five games.
Morant on making his first postseason appearance,
"It was a good feeling, it was one of me and my teammates' goals this year to make the playoffs, being able to achieve that goal was good but we definitely weren't satisfied,"
"Obviously playing a good Utah team, we came up short and not the outcome we wanted but I feel like it made us hungry."
HUNGRY indeed. The following season Morant has led the Memphis Grizzlies back to the postseason as the #2 seed in the Western Conference.
Morant's Stats from last season 2020-21: 19.1 PPG | 7.4 APG | 4.0
In a season where he has averaged 27.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in 57 games. Including making his first All-Star appearance and Capping off the Regular Season with the Most Improved Player Award. JA credits his success to his teammates for putting him in positions to be better. Without them, none of this would be possible.
When Ja Morant. Was asked? What's next now?
He won the Rookie of the Year 2019-20
Most Improved Player 2021-22
While he is not a finalist for the MVP award, Ja says it is definitely on his list!!!!
