The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Victor Oladipo wasn’t on the other side anymore. That was the case on Wednesday night for Monte Morris at the YMCA Capital City League.
It was Morris’ first night back since returning from the CP3 Elite Guard camp, and no longer was he going against some of the best young talent in the Association. Now, Morris was back where he’s the top dog.
That’s why it wasn’t surprising when he posted a triple-double with 41 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists in a 134-109 Renaissance Granite & Quartz win over Hannah Homes. It is nice to be top dog.
“It was fun. It was big-time,” Morris said about the camp experience. “My first day was probably my best day, for sure. Got a chance to matchup with Oladipo a lot. I learned a lot from him so it was good.”
Morris mentioned the camp’s host, Chris Paul, and the Phoenix Suns’ T.J. Warren as other NBA players that were seeing hanging around the camp. They were there to help mentor the best high school and college point guards in the country.
“I think it is big-time just being able to see where they come from and how they see the game,” Morris said about working with the pros. “I can implement it into my game and I think it was a good learning experience for me.”
There was only one thing Morris mentioned as something he learned he needed to improve on while at camp, and some might even call it a nit-picky thing. Even so, it is one of those nit-picky things that can make a huge difference on a basketball court.
“Just the air space I do on my pick-and-roll sometimes,” Morris said. “Just trying to stay as tight as possible and always going downhill. I told my trainers and managers that work me out that and we working on that.”
Deonte Burton scored 42 points, shooting 14-of-31 from the field, and grabbed 18 rebounds in the Hannah Homes loss.
Tim Vorland Photography 126, ADIO Chiropractic 122
*** Matt Thomas led Tim Vorland was 28 points, including 4-of-5 shooing from behind the arc, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out seven assists in the win. Simeon Carter didn’t play in the game.
Nick Babb collected another triple-double with 28 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists in the loss. Solomon Young was at Cyclone Academy.
Des Moines Outreach Lions Club 131, Phoenix Renewable Resources 115
*** Naz Mitrou-Long scored 50 points on 19-of-44 shooting, including 10-of-30 from behind the arc, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished five assists in the losing effort. Darrell Bowie was at Cyclone Academy.
Merrill Holden and Jakolby Long were both at Cyclone Academy and didn’t play for Outreach. Drake’s Ore Arogundade led the team with 29 points.
