Many know the newly second overall pick in the NBA draft, Ja Morant, as the most exciting player in college not named Zion. However, if it had not been for then Murray State assistant coach James Kane (now Iowa State head coach) getting hungry, Morant might not have been drafted.
In an ESPN E60 profile, Morant explains how he was added to the two day camp late and how his name wasn’t called so he had to shoot around in a separate gym. Kane, who was scouting another player, ended up getting hungry and was directed to the concession stand where he ordered Doritos and a soda.
“I ordered some Doritos and a soda. I was able to hear the balls bouncing in the auxiliary gym.”
Kane watched Morant for a few minutes then called head coach, Matt McMahon who drove to Spartanburg, SC to watch Morant play. Although he averaged 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists during his junior and senior years of high school, Morant went virtually unnoticed and only received one major D1 offer from South Carolina and five offers from smaller programs including Murray State.
When discussing the offer with Ja’s mother, she asks if the offer from Murray State was for four years and Kane responds by telling her it is, but he will only be there for two.
“I just started laughing. I was like, ‘Yeah, it’s a four-year scholarship, but he’s only going to be there two years.'”
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