Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

hs basketball:

Gorman’s Demetris Morant wants to be known for more than monster dunks

Forward known for his defense and dunking ability now being recruited by UNLV

Bishop Gorman v. Western Basketball

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

Bishop Gorman’s Demetris Morant, right, blocks a shot of Western’s Aaron Buckley earlier this season.

Demetris Morant brings fans to their feet

It was the type of highlight-reel play many young basketball players can only dream of making.

But for Demetris Morant, a Bishop Gorman High rising senior power forward, the kind of monstrous dunk he made last Saturday at an AAU tournament has become a regular occurrence.

Playing for Dream Vision out of Southern California, Morant was on the receiving end of an alley-oop pass on the fast break. He leaped over a defender to catch the ball and complete a dunk that brought the crowd to its feet.

The play was captured on video and put on Youtube.com. When Morant arrived at school Monday, classmates were showing each other the video on their smart phones and posting the link to their Facebook pages.

“I try not to think about it so much, but everyone keeps bringing it up to me,” the 6-foot-8 Morant said.

With a vertical jump measured at 35 inches, Morant’s dunks — whether in warm-ups or games — are attention grabbers. It’s the same for his blocking ability on defense.

While he’s happy to put on a show, the soft-spoken Morant realizes there is more to being a complete basketball player. So he has spent countless hours since the end of the high school season in February working on his offensive game.

By time the season rolls around in December, Morant plans on having a jump-hook and other post moves at his disposal. He’s only been playing basketball three years, growing up as a wide receiver and defensive end in football.

“He is just raw, but he is developing,” Gorman coach Grant Rice said. “It’s not a finished product.”

Morant averaged six points, six rebounds and two blocks per game this winter in limited playing time. But his raw athletic ability has college coaches salivating.

He has scholarship offers from Memphis, USC, Florida State, San Diego State and Arizona State. Morant said UNLV, where Rice’s brother, Dave, was hired Monday is now recruiting him. New UNLV assistant Justin Hutson, formerly of San Diego State, was previously recruiting Morant and the two are believed to have a solid relationship.

Gorman has three others from the class of 2012 with multiple major offers — Rosco Allen, Ben Carter and Shabazz Muhammad . The group is often referred to as the “Big Three.”

If Morant has his way, it would be the “Big Four.”

“I still have a lot to work on, but my shot is getting better,” said Morant, who frequently works with Muhammad’s dad, Ron Holmes, on his offensive game. “I just have to keep working at it.”

Morant in a dunk contest

Morant’s dunk last week might not have been his most impressive. During pre-tournament dunk contest this winter in Oregon, Morant flew over teammates sitting in a chair for a dunk. That was captured by news cameras and quickly spread online.

“The one in the game was more impressive,” Grant Rice said. "The fact that he can do something like that in a real game is crazy."

During the Hoophall Classic this winter in Springfield, Mass., Nike representatives tested the entire Gorman team in the SPARQ training — the SAT of sorts for high school athletes, with the acronym standing for speed, power, agility, reaction and quickness. Morant is believed to have one of the best scores for a high school player.

“He tested off the charts,” Rice said. “The Nike people said the highest they’ve measured a high school kid.”

Morant was used mostly as a change-of pace-player this year, being inserted to bring energy to the court. That typically happened with a dunk or blocked shot.

“I know dunking is only two points and a blocked shot is just one play,” Rice said. “But from a mental aspect, it can get a team emotionally high in spirit or bring the other team’s down.”

Morant’s jumping ability is helping more than the Gorman basketball team. He also participates in the long, triple and high jumps for the Gaels’ track team. He won the long jump Tuesday in a meet with Spring Valley, posting a score of 20 feet, 6 inches.

Track coach Scott Cooley said Morant will be in contention for the state title in the long and high jumps. Considering Morant is relatively new to the sport and still learning the technique and steps to record good scores, that speaks volumes to his ability.

His 6-4 in the high jump is second best in Southern Nevada this spring.

“He has some of the most unique athletic ability I have ever seen,” Cooley said. “He is just a special kid. His athletic ability is through the roof.”

So is his dunking ability — almost literally.

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