Charlotte’s Morrison out of spotlight this March

03.9.2007

(Basketball News) - About this time last year, Charlotte forward Adam Morrison was a fixture in the spotlight. This year, not so much.

In March of 2006, the Gonzaga Bulldogs were getting ready for the NCAA Tournament with the fan favorite Morrison on board. Morrison himself, with his signature shaggy hair and still-famous mustache, was about to cap a brilliant collegiate career that he concluded as the school’s third all-time leading scorer.

A junior last year, Morrison’s college career came to an end with a Sweet Sixteen loss to UCLA, sending the 6-foot-8 forward into the sunset in tears. And the way the Bobcats’ season has gone this year, the always emotional Morrison probably still has some tissues handy.

But when Morrison decided to skip his senior year, the state of Washington’s loss became Charlotte’s gain. The Bobcats drafted Morrison with the third overall pick, making him the latest youngster to join the still-developing squad.

However, as the old saying goes, what a difference a year makes.

Morrison is getting a nice chunk of minutes this season — 31.8 per game — but just isn’t hitting his shots. He is netting only 13.1 points per contest and is shooting a mere 38.2 percent from the floor.

Those are a far cry from his college numbers that saw the forward score 28.1 points per game in his junior season and 19.7 for his career. Morrison shot over 50 percent from the floor at Gonzaga.

Morrison’s numbers, though, are solid when compared to the rest of the 2006-07 rookie class. His point and minutes per game totals are second among first- year players, behind only Portland’s Brandon Roy.

Morrison has shown flashes of great play this year. He has scored 20-plus points 11 times for Charlotte and was the Eastern Conference’s Rookie of the Month for November. His high for points on the season is 30, which he posted against Indiana in December.

All signs indicate Morrison is going to be a good player in the NBA. However, the Bobcats are still a young and developing team and no player is a staple of that situation more than Morrison.

However, as he continues to grow, Morrison will have the Bobcats in the spotlight.

CHL

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