Matt Morgan chasing an NBA roster spot with the Hornets

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Matt Morgan, a standout at Cox Mill High, is looking to land a spot on an NBA roster. He scored a Charlotte Hornets Summer League record 36 points in an 84-68 win against Portland on July 19.

Matt Morgan knows what it means to be a pro.

The Concord native set a Charlotte Hornets franchise record with 36 points on 11-of-11 shooting in an 84-68 win against Portland on July 19. It was his third straight double-figure game in the Las Vegas portion of Summer League. At 26, Morgan is an older and more experienced presence in the offseason showcase.

“Being that this is my fourth time doing summer league, I have a better understanding of what (coaches) are looking for,” he said. “Just trying to help guys like Nick (Smith Jr.) and obviously Tidjane (Salaün). Him being from France and having that connection with him having played there, just helping him through this process. I know it can be hectic, especially Vegas itself. So, those are big things I think I’ve done a good job of so far.”

Morgan grew up with basketball. His dad, Lamont, played at Georgetown alongside former Hornets great Alonzo Mourning, so he always saw the game growing up and knew one day he wanted to be a professional.

“I grew up in the Washington D.C. area,” Morgan said. “I moved to Concord in about the fourth or fifth grade and have been there ever since. Being the oldest brother, I wanted to be better than my dad and I think that is what drove me for a long time. I think when I finally beat him that is when I thought I could compete with anyone.”

Morgan’s idol — other than his dad — was Warriors guard Stephen Curry.

“(Curry) being from Charlotte, growing up, watching him go through Charlotte Christian to Davidson and where he is now was definitely an inspiration,” he said. “Not just an inspiration to how I try to play but also how I carry myself off the court. Also, just him being an underrated guy and continuing to play and grow as a person.”

Morgan had a decorated high school career at Cox Mill. As a freshman, the junior varsity team went undefeated in conference play. The Chargers won their first ever conference tournament in in Morgan’s sophomore year and proceeded to win it all the next two seasons as well.

Longtime Cabarrus County sports reporter Jemal Horton said of Morgan: “He was Wendell Moore before Wendell Moore.”

Moore, who also played at Cox Mill and owns several Cabarrus County records, started his career a year after Morgan graduated. Moore is now with the Detroit Pistons.

Morgan played his college basketball at Cornell, but when they sent him an interest letter, he had no idea who they even were, much to the displeasure of his mother.

“I tell this story all the time,” Morgan said. “When I got the interest letter in my junior year, my mom freaked out. I didn’t even know who Cornell was and when I told (my mom) that, she did not like that. So, we had a whole sit-down conversation about the history of Cornell and what it meant to be Ivy League. So, they offered me towards the end of my junior year in high school and I committed shortly after, because they were my only Division I offer.”

Morgan is Cornell’s all-time leading scorer and holds career records for total points (2,333), points per game (20.5), field goals made (743), field goals attempted (1,580) and free throws made (513). He holds the season record for points scored in a season (687 in 2018-19) and three-pointers made per game (3.32 in 2018-19).

“Being at Cornell, I learned a lot,” Morgan said. “Obviously, the classes were tough going through those, but I wouldn’t change any of that. I wouldn’t trade any of it. I had an amazing time and broke a lot of records, too. So, hopefully those last for quite a while and no one gets close for a while.”

Since college, Morgan has been on the grind trying reach the NBA. He spent two years with the Toronto Raptors G-League affiliate, Raptors 905. He also played professionally in Turkey and France before playing with the London Lions last season.

Morgan says he likes the way the new Hornets’ staff operates and thinks the organization is heading in the right direction.

“Being with the hometown team has been amazing,” he said. “With the new coaching staff, with coach Lee coaching us in Sacramento, now coach Longstaff here in Vegas. Just getting to know all the coaches feels like everything is fresh and moving in the right direction. I think Charlotte has struggled the past few Summer Leagues, so to start 5-0, I just feel like things are heading in the right direction for the organization.”

With a solid Summer League showing, Morgan believes he’ll have an opportunity to sign with an NBA team.

“Everyone knows I can play offense,” he said. “I think for me, my defense will be where I separate myself from some guys. I just need to keep being aggressive. I think the leadership I bring and being able to put guys in the right spots, being able to communicate and ultimately help win games is what everyone wants.

“Everyone wants winners.”

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