Morant helps welcome Hoop City back to court
On the eve of the Grizzlies’ departure date for the NBA bubble in Orlando, Ja Morant was in the gym.
Memphis’ renowned rookie wasn’t playing. Rather, Morant was watching. Watching a small group of high school stars, who make up Hoop City Basketball Club, hit the court together for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Morant watched as five-star Class of 2021 guard JD Davison displayed his dunking ability. He watched fivestar guard Skyy Clark show off the moves that have made him one of the nation’s top recruits in the Class of 2022. He watched four-star Memphis players like Johnathan Lawson and Mason Miller get up and down the floor during the two-hour training session.
Afterward, Morant addressed the group of captivated teenagers and coaches, which included former NBA assistant Bob Thornton and former High Point coach Scott Cherry.
“Some guys are blessed with the talent to be recognized,” Morant told the players. “For me, where I came from, I didn’t get a lot of recognition at all. I know it’s some guys out here that are under-recruited now. Keep God first. Keep pushing. God has a plan for everybody, and it’ll work out. As long as you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing, you’ll be fine.”
Ernie Kuyper, president of Hoop City Basketball Club, said Morant’s presence – along with the likes of projected first-round NBA Draft pick R.J. Hampton, Memphis guard Boogie Ellis, Austin Spurs forward and Memphis native Dedric Lawson, and former Tigers assistant coach Mike Miller – at Tuesday’s workout was an added morale boost for the team’s kickoff to Pro Week.
“Ja obviously loves the game and loves the kids,” Kuyper said. “What he said was just amazing for the kids.”
One piece of advice from Morant that resonated well with Clark, a Nashville native who holds offers from Memphis, Kentucky and North Carolina, among others, was the importance of dedication.
“He said he was a (video) gamehead when he was a kid, and his dad told him, ‘While you’re playing (video games), someone’s working on their (basketball) game,’” Clark said. “He took that and that’s when he fell in
love with the game.”
Hoop City’s first day back on the floor consisted mostly of drill work and a controlled three-on-three competition. The team planned to divide into two groups of six and square off in exhibition games Wednesday and Thursday. Since fans and college coaches aren’t permitted to attend, both games were to be streamed live on Facebook.
It’s not the ideal scenario, but Kuyper’s organization – like most AAU programs navigating their way through COVID-19 protocols and precautions – is doing the best it can under the circumstances.
“We’re just trying to figure out a way to, with everything going on, the best way and the safest way possible to get kids an opportunity to be seen to get scholarships,” he said. “That’s our No. 1 goal, from No. 12 to No. 1 on the team. I think we’ve confirmed over 300 Division I coaches from 100-something schools will be watching. You can’t ask for anything else, especially now.”
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com