With the addition of Brian Morris, Towson University men?s basketball coach Pat Kennedy has finished what he says is the most important 10-month stretch for his program in the Colonial Athletic Association.
After just one season at the University of Richmond, Morris, a 6-foot-6 sophomore guard, has decided to bring his game to Towson.
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Morris started in 23 games as a freshman and led the Spiders with 44 3-pointers while averaging 8.1 points and a team-high 2.8 assists per game.
“He’s a very versatile perimeter player,” Kennedy said. “There aren’t too many 6-foot-6 guys who can plan the point. He can always be a small forward. It’s nice to get guy with his flexibility.”
Due to NCAA transfer rules, Morris must sit out the 2007-08 season. However, he’ll be allowed to work out with the team this year, and Kennedy expects Morris to be a focal point for the Tigers in 2008-09.
Kennedy and his coaching staff, which includes Morris’ brother assistant coach Shaun Morris, have been looking at their new guard since his high school days. A four-year starter at Trinity High (Pa.), Morris averaged 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists during his senior season. He was a two-time Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association AA first-team selection, while helping Trinity to a state title and two District III championships.
“He was one of our top recruits coming out of high school,” Kennedy said. “He’s going to be a very good CAA player. There’s no question about it.”
Even with his brother on the staff, Kennedy still couldn’t lock up Morris. But after one season for the Spiders (8-22), Morris wanted a change and received inquiries from West Virginia and Virginia Tech, Kennedy said.
Morris is the fifth transfer Towson has gained this offseason, joining Vernon Carr, Tony Durant, Junior Hairston and Josh Thornton.
Along with freshman recruit Ricardo Brown, Kennedy is doing his best to build the Tigers, who were 15-17 last season, into a CAA contender.
“The addition of these guys are going to be tremendous for the program,” he said. “All we need to do now is work hard and get to that 20-win plateau.”
