Morse Will Make Nittany Lion Fans Happy
Home-town star Willie Morse (right) made an early college decision when he verbally committed to Penn State this June, after his sophomore season at State College (PA) High School.
Morse, a 6-3, 190 pound shooting guard, averaged 14 points and six rebounds for his squad that made the final 16 of the state championships. He also hit 55 field goals from behind the arc.
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"It was pretty easy making the decision," Morse said following his 12 point performance for the winning orange squad in the NBA all-star game at the Five Star Pitt IV Basketball Camp on the campus of Robert Morris University.
"I know the coaching staff really well," said Morse. This reporter understands that point now; his father was an assistant with current head coach Jerry Dunn when Bruce Parkhill was leading the Nittany Lions. "I like their style of play. And it's a great school for academics."
Other schools that were recruiting Morse included Notre Dame, Michigan, St. Francis (PA) and Quinnipiac.
Morse was one of the victims of the NCAA's 100 mile rule. He normally plays with Rick Barrett's Gym Rats from Cherry Hill, NJ but couldn't compete with the squad this season. "If the rule stays in place, I'd like to hook up with the Sam Rines program (in Philadelphia)," he said.
Morse has a nice jump shot and showed the skills of a coach's son. He has excellent vision and court sense, in one play following a missed three-pointer for a long rebound and a successful mid-range jump shot.
He is also a good student with a 3.3 GPA and plans to major in pre-law. "I'm interested in environmental law," he added.
This summer, he's been working on his defense, foot speed, ballhandling and outside shooting.
Morse wasn't the only player from State College who took advantage of Howard Garfinkel's excellent teaching camp outside Pittsburgh, PA. Another State College rising junior, 6-1 guard Matt Cooper, was an NCAA camper the following week at Five Star Pitt V.