Player: AJ Morman
Class: 2028
School: Southern Durham
It seems like every year, stars are born on the brightest of stages at the John Wall Invitational, and though he is a well-known player around the state, 2028 AJ Morman certainly pushed his trajectory a little bit higher with his performance in Raleigh.
Talk about an impressive three days from the sophomore guard, putting on a show scoring-wise, hitting a buzzer-beater, and ending the event with a bang.
vs. Highland: 19pts
vs. Petersburg: 22pts including game-winning 3
vs. Broughton: 41pts (13-18 FG)
Totals: 27.3ppg, 61.4FG %, 66.7% from 3, 13 rebounds, 7 steals
Morman has been proving time after time that he is one of the top guards in the state of North Carolina, and is embracing being one of the key leaders for this Southern Durham team. When the brightest of lights shine, he only elevates his game… At the John Wall Invitational, Morman was incredible with his ability to be a playmaker and scorer on the court. The dynamic point guard flourishes out in the open floor, displaying speed, pace, vision, and feel with the ball in his hands. He is excellent with his ability to keep defenders guessing, picking his spots, showing a strong chance of direction, and excellent body control in understanding how to finish around defenders. Morman has no issue in taking defenders off the bounce with his quick first step but also rising up and scoring over defenders from the perimeter. That was seen all throughout his time in Raleigh, as he left a lasting impression on so many in North Carolina.
What Has Phenom Hoops Said:
“The highly regarded floor general will likely take yet another step in his progression and general status as a leader. Coming off a very productive freshman campaign, Morman will likely need to score the ball more in order for this group to maximize its resources. He’s a smart, balanced point guard who effortlessly dictates the action while scoring the ball in a variety of ways. His vision, pace, and ability to change speeds makes him a real problem for opponents. Morman is also a pesky defender who simply elevates both the floor and ceiling of this group.”
“Anyone within the grassroots scene should already recognize Morman as a crafty, intelligent floor general and one of the top players in North Carolina. He displays a calm, steady demeanor and a very high level of confidence with the ball in his hands. Morman possesses a tight handle and the quickness to effortlessly break down opponents off the bounce. He touches the paint at a high volume, where he’s able to finish, score on floaters/runners, or locate the open man. Morman has a keen sense for making the right decision with unwavering consistency. He’s a terrific playmaker with the pace, vision, and creation skills to elevate his teammates. However, this squad needs his scoring output. Morman is a capable three-point shooter, but is arguably at his best when asserting himself in the midrange or attacking the basket and getting to the line. He mixes it up in a variety of ways, but will apply consistent penetrating pressure if allowed. Morman rebounds the ball very well for his size and looks to push the break at every opportunity. He also possesses nice instincts to force turnovers at a quality rate defensively.”