#15 DAVID MORRIS, 5-10 180LB, JR, HYATTSVILLE, MD

Two seasons ago, David Morris finished his freshman year for the University of Dayton and had most Flyer fans convinced that his basketball future belonged on the bench. Highly regarded out of St. Vincent Palotti HS, Morris developed a reputation in the Washington, DC, area as one of the quickest, most underrated point guards in the East. At 5’10’’ however, many profile schools shied away from the pint-sized dust devil at the fear of wasting a scholarship on someone without the physical tools to be a future court leader. In just one season under his belt, the Flyer Faithful reacted quickly to Morris’ struggles and labeled him among other things: poor shooter, out of control, overrated, undersized, shaky dribbler, questionable decision-maker.Today, David Morris is one of the most lethal players on Oliver Purnell’s team. Newswriters from across the Midwest and East, fans from opposing schools, and even the Flyer Faithful finally agree that Morris has the potential to be one of Dayton’s truly great point guards. Teamed with Tony Stanley in the backcourt, the tandem is widely considered to be the most talented in the conference. While Morris’ surprise turnaround last year shocked many local fans, UDPride backed Morris’ ability from Day One and supported him as the Flyer guard of the future in our 1999 Player Previews. To us, it came as no surprise at all:

“The first words out of the David Morris doubters are gregariously similar: he can’t shoot and he plays out of control. There’s no denying Morris’ amoebic .261% from the field and tendency to find trouble by leaving his feet too often, but the reality is the very weaknesses besetting David Morris also contribute to his strengths and establishes himself as one of the few players on the team who refuse to read the front page press clippings of Flyer opponents. On a team riddled with players caught staring at the headlights all year, Morris used 1998-99 as a statement of attrition more valuable than any statistic in the boxscore.” (11-4-99) This was after a season in which Morris shot just .261% from the field and .333% from behind the arc. But there was more:

“…those who study David Morris’ game films [1998-99] will see that many precarious situations were equally dependent on questionable play from his teammates. In short, Morris was too fast, too quick, too precise, and too many moves ahead of his teammates to allow for their misgivings. The best chess players play 10 moves ahead and Morris failed to realize some of his fellow Flyers had yet to develop the proper basketball IQ. When Morris zigged, they zagged. When he pushed the ball, they lagged behind. When he penetrated, no one cut to the basket or established ball-readiness.” (11-4-99)Last year, Morris did the same thing he had always done, only this time the iron was kind and the shots fell in. After a season of numerous toilet-bowls that lipped out of the basket, the Law of Averages evened out and before long David Morris found success that seemed untouchable in 1998-99. Miraculous turnaround? No. It was simply inevitable.

By helping lead the Flyers to their first NCAA appearance in 10 seasons, Morris averaged 8.9ppg, 3.1rpg, and 3.5apg on top of some clutch playmaking at crucial times during the year to keep the Flyers truckin’.

While Morris came off the bench a year ago to spell Edwin Young or as Young slid over to shooting guard, there was never any doubt as to who was in charge. This season marks the first time that David Morris will move into the starting lineup and fans should be expecting good things. Morris must adjust to starting the game from the opening tip however as the luxury of scouting the tempo, players, tendencies, and intangibles from the sidelines in the first few minutes of the ballgame will no longer be there. Finally, Morris needs to be consistent all year for Dayton to have another chance at an NCAA birth. Nobody is hitting the panic button — and everyone expects Morris to thrive — but where he goes the team will go. How far that journey might be is a question nobody can answer just yet.