For some ballers, the path to the National Basketball Association (NBA) is not always filled with Final Fours, lottery picks and million-dollar contracts.
Current NBA players like Dennis Schröder and Serge Ibaka spent time playing overseas before their careers took off; Chapel Hill High School alumnus Josh Morrison aspires to be next.
Morrison was a member of the Tiger basketball team all four of his years at Chapel Hill before graduating in 2009. During his senior year, standing 6 feet, 5 inches tall, he was named team captain and averaged 13.5 points per game (PPG).
“I enjoyed all the memories and friendships the most while playing ball,” Morrison said. “I was pretty skilled, but I was more of a late bloomer as I developed mostly by the end of my high school career.”
Paul Kieckbusch, a physical education teacher at Smith Middle School, coached Morrison for two years at Chapel Hill. “Josh was a hard-worker, always eager to learn. He was in my room every lunch period, whether he was talking basketball or just wanted to be part of the game,” Kieckbusch said. “[His biggest attribute] was that he wanted to learn and get better, and he didn’t take no for an answer.”
Nate Vernon, a Chapel Hill native, played with Morrison on an Amateur Athletic Union team before their senior years. “He’s very athletic and skilled,” Vernon said. “There are very few weaknesses in his game. He can guard multiple positions and play point guard offensively.” Vernon compared Morrison to current Oklahoma City Thunder guard Paul George. Other teammates described Morrison as a “quiet guy who will give you buckets.”
Morrison then continued his career at North Carolina Wesleyan, a Division III school in Rocky Mount, NC. As a 6 foot 6 inch, 185 pound junior, Morrison started 22 games, averaged 10 PPG and 5.2 assists per game.
During his senior year, Morrison ranked third in scoring (18.8 PPG) and fourth in assists (99) in the USA South conference. He also became the 17th member of the 1,000 point club at North Carolina Wesleyan. His standout season earned him the accolade of the North Carolina Wesleyan College Male Athlete of The Year.
Morrison soon realized that his dream of playing professional basketball could become a reality.
“I came into open gym sophomore year and I was torching everyone,” Morrison said. “All of my teammates said that I would end up an All-American by the time I left North Carolina Wesleyan College and I would go overseas. The All-American accolade never happened but I did make it overseas, so it all worked out in my favor.”
More than a year and half after graduating from NC Wesleyan, Morrison started playing professionally overseas.
Most recently Morrison was a part of the Hawthorn Magic, a team located in Melbourne, Australia. Before that, he played for the Citybasket Recklinghausen in Germany.
However, 26 year-old Morrison still has his sights set on the NBA.
“As you get older, you see how tough it really is to make it to that level,” Morrison said. “Is it still possible? Yes, but I know how hard I would have to work and how many things would have to go right in order for that to happen.”
After years of playing basketball, the squeaky hardwood and orange leather have not gotten old for Morrison. “What keeps me coming back is just the love of everything about it,” Morrison said. “The sound going through the net. The trash talking. The relationships I have developed. Being in the gym by myself training with Jay-Z and Young Thug blasting through my ears. It’s like my escape from the world when I step on that court. For that moment, there is nothing to stress or worry about. No better feeling.”
Morrison is currently working on a website where he will upload blog posts that recall his experiences playing overseas.
Morrison recently signed with Global Sports Management in Washington D.C. to handle his career on and off the court.
Throughout his career, he has played against many high-profile players including Marcus Paige, John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Rasheed Wallace and Khris Middleton.
“When everyone was younger, we all had the same dream. Then many people drop off, until you’re the only one left striving for the same dream and you end up making it,” Morrison said.
When you flip through the channels and stop to watch a NBA game at night, do not be surprised if you see a man who reached that dream.
