Every year when March Madness rolls around, basketball fans all around the country come out to support their team. Fans stay up to date with their team's players as well as the top players that companies like ESPN and Bleacher Report promote leading up to the tournament.
Most fans state their understanding of who the best players are in college basketball are the same as whatever sports program they've checked recently. However, every year during the tournament, at least one player who hasn't been talked about all season ultimately plays their way onto the front of every sports article and into the hearts of fans worldwide.
The player who was able to make his name nationally known is Ja Morant from Murray State. Morant is a phenomenal point guard. He has a very bright future ahead of him at the next level, but his strengths off the court are what will help propel him past other draft prospects. I love Morant's game, but I especially admire his decision to go to a small Division l school like Murray State.
Anyone who played a sport when they were younger hoped to play in college. The older you get, however, the dream of playing in college seems to fade away for most. I believe there are two factors for why young athletes give up on achieving their dreams of playing at the next level.
The first being is that most players are simply not equipped with the right skill set or talent to continue at the next level. The second reason is that our society pushes athletes to only play at the next level if it's a big-time school.
Although I'm no longer in high-school, I can remember conversations I listened in on when I was a high-schooler. It would be National Signing Day, and upperclassmen would be signing to a small Dl or Dll school to play football, basketball, volleyball or tennis.
Students and faculty would clap, yell, and even hug the student-athlete after they had signed. However, after the signing, you would walk down the halls of the high-school and hear comments such as "Well, it's cool that they signed and all, but it's JUST a small Dl or Dll school. It's not like they're really doing that much. If they were to play at an actually good school, then that would be impressive!".
Student-athletes don't continue to chase their dreams into college because society discredits their abilities if they don't receive an offer from a big-name school or choose to go elsewhere.
Paul George? Fresno State. Kawhi Leonard? San Diego State. Damian Lillard? Weber State. Jimmy Butler? Tyler Junior College and Marquette University. The last one I'm going to include in this list is the ever-so-special Stephen Curry.
All five of these players have one thing in common: They are household names in professional basketball. Stephen Curry's name has recently become a global one. You could travel anywhere in the world and say his name, and someone nearby would know who he is. The five NBA players I listed have combined for 23 all-star selections in their careers.
These five have accumulated quite a long list of accolades, far too many to go into. I'll let it be said that this list of players all chose to attend a small Dl school for basketball. I bet anyone who spoke poorly or down on them for their decision is holding their tongue now. These are some of the top basketball players in the entire world, and Ja Morant is following right in their footsteps.
Murray State and Ja Morant entered the tournament as a twelve seed with their first match-up coming against fifth seed Marquette and their star guard Markus Howard who is predicted to leave for the NBA draft this summer.
Over the course of his sophomore season, Morant racked up some very impressive accolades. Morant led the nation in assists as he averaged ten per game. Morant also became the first player to average 20+ points and 10+ assists across an entire season. Ja Morant had three triple-double games but none was more impressive in the season than that against Marquette. Murray State came out victorious against Marquette while Morant finished the game with a mind-boggling stat line of 17 points, 16 assists and 11 rebounds.
Morant became one of only nine other players in NCAA history to record a triple-double in the tournament, the last one coming in 2012 from Draymond Green.
Ja Morant is undeniably one of the most talented up and coming basketball players in the world. He is all-around talent and can make an impact in every facet of the game.
Although he has not declared yet, it is to be assumed that Morant will enter his name into the 2019 NBA Draft. On top of that Morant is viewed to be a top three pick in almost every mock draft. He's right up there with the likes of Zion Williamson and RJ Barret from Duke.
Ja Morant is a prime example of why to continue to chase your dreams into college despite what other's may say. Success is and will never be a straight line and there are so many ways to get there. Morant and quite a few NBA all-stars could back me up on this as well.
Don't stop believing in yourself and continue to put in the time and hard work. An opportunity will arise, and when it comes your way take full advantage of it. There is nothing stopping you from becoming the next player to make a name for him/herself like Ja Morant on the big stage.
Will you be up next?
