
For the second year in a row, Eastern’s men’s basketball has only one true freshman on its roster.
Last year, it was guard Isaiah Griffin. This year, it’s forward Terry McMorris.
The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, native committed to the program on May 29.
McMorris started playing basketball at 3 years old when his father introduced him to the game. McMorris said he had fun playing the game growing up, as he played against good competition while getting better at his craft.
He said he was unnoticed growing up playing the game of basketball, but he said that didn’t stop him from working hard on his game.
In high school, McMorris was a two-sport athlete. He played football for one year but realized football wasn’t for him. On the basketball side, Terry won a state championship his sophomore year at Del City High School in Oklahoma.
Sooner rather than later, that recognition started to come into McMorris’ life.
McMorris transferred to OKC Douglass High School for his senior year. At OKC Douglass, McMorris averaged 24 points and 15 rebounds a game during the season.
McMorris also helped his team record a 26-1 record before heading to the state tournament during the regular season where they went 26-1.
In the state tournament, McMorris averaged 15.3 points and 11 rebounds, leading his team to the state championship where he scored 20 points and 15 rebounds in the championship game.
“That was the best season I’ve had by far,” McMorris said. “It was fun being around good guys and having a coaching staff that believed in me.”
McMorris was also named to the First-team All-State team, an Oklahoma Super Five-First team and an Oklahoma All-Star player.
He said he knew after his senior season that he could play collegiate basketball because of how hard he worked year after year. McMorris would even go to three workouts a day to continue to improve on his craft.
After a great senior year, McMorris decided to go to prep school to play at Link Year Prep in Branson, Missouri, to develop on and off the court.
“I developed my ability to handle the ball and shoot the ball as well, and I got closer to God,” McMorris said. “It was much needed.”
McMorris also played Amateur Athletic Union basketball for former NBA player Blake Griffin’s team.
“It was a lot of fun and a good experience playing against some of the top players in the country like current Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham and Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson,” McMorris said. “I learned that everyone on the team has a role. You have to play your role and do the little things on the court because it matters.”
Playing for team Griffin was an experience McMorris said he was grateful for, and everything Griffin told him about play style and competitiveness stuck with McMorris. He said he remembers it every time he steps foot on the court.
“Blake [Griffin] told us to always compete and be consistent because in the NBA if you aren’t competing and not being consistent you are not going to play,” McMorris said.
When choosing to commit to Eastern, McMorris said it was an easy choice for him to make. He felt the coaching staff was great, so it wasn’t difficult to decide to come to Charleston to continue his athletic career.
McMorris wants to make a big impact for this Panthers team and wants to prove he is a great addition to the team.
Throughout the season thus far, McMorris played in 10 games, averaging 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.
Cameron Thomas can be reached at 581-2812 or at cathomas8@eiu.edu.