By DAVID COOK
It’s been 12 years since a basketball player from Genesee County earned Michigan’s Mr. Basketball Award, and a Beecher Buccaneer has never brought home the award. This year, with the type of season that Beecher senior Monte’ Morris is having, that drought could come to an end.
Kelvin Torbert of Flint Northwestern was the last Genesee County player to win the award when he was named the 2001 winner. Beecher has had a number of players make a run at Mr. Basketball, including Roy Marble and Marquis Gray, who finished fourth in 2004.
So far this season, Morris is putting up Mr. Basketball-type numbers. He is averaging 20 points per game along with eight assists, six rebounds, and five steals.
“Monte’ is having a phenomenal season,” Beecher coach Mike Williams said. “He could be averaging 30 or 40 points per game. The Ottawa Hills game was the first game this season that he played a whole four quarters. The first four games he played in, he only played two and a half quarters.”
Morris opened up eyes on the west side of the state when he helped lead Beecher to a 65-49 win over Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills in the East vs. West I-96 Holiday Tournament. Morris scored 26 points and added 10 assists, four steals, and four rebounds in the win.
With those kinds of numbers, it’s easy to see why Morris would be in the conversation for Mr. Basketball. Morris, however, deflects any hype about the award and is more focused on team success.
“I don’t really think about it,” he said. “It would be a great thing if I happened to win it, but I put my team first. My goal is the team and getting back to the state finals. If I was to win Mr. Basketball it would be a blessing.”
Helping the Bucs win a second straight state title is the top priority for Morris, and the Bucs have started strong this season. They’ve won five straight, despite graduating four starters from last year’s squad.
With one state title under his belt, Morris has placed his name alongside other elite guards from the Flint area like Mateen Cleaves and Eric Turner.
Morris will continue another legacy when he begins his college career at Iowa State University next season. Iowa State was the college home of a number of outstanding Flint basketball players including Jeff Grayer, Barry Stevens, and Justus Thigpen.
“I really liked the coaches at Iowa State,” Morris said. “They are really great guys, and I’m excited to be going there.”
Before he heads out to Iowa, Morris, along with his teammates, has plenty of unfinished business remaining.
“I think we are coming together good as a team,” Morris said. “We are really focused, and we just want to get better every game and every practice.”