Raymar Morgan

Jonathan Givony

Only a few days removed from a disappointing showing at the NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis, and having to wait until the very last minute to even get invited to this event, Michigan State’s Raymar Morgan was one of the most productive players at Portsmouth and did about as good a job as he could to help his professional stock in the process.

Morgan was active and athletic around the rim, moving off the ball intelligently and being a terrific target for his guards to dish passes to for simple finishes. He also crashed the offensive glass, was outstanding in transition and generally played with a chip on his shoulder, spending most of his time at the power forward position, where he was very effective.

While injuries may have never allowed us to see what could become of Morgan’s career at Michigan State, and his scoring numbers clearly regressed every year since his sophomore season, it was good to see him show that he still has a pulse and is worthy of keeping tabs on.

Mostly an inside player in college, seeing the largest part of his offensive possessions in the post according to Synergy Sports Technology, Morgan showed off better perimeter skills than we had seen from him up until this point. He created his own shot off the dribble on a few possessions, but didn’t show much in terms of a jump-shot, an area he struggled in this season at Michigan State as well, knocking down just 20/71 jumpers on the year, and 5/17 from beyond the arc.

Defensively, Morgan is capable of guarding either forward position, something that makes him attractive in today’s NBA. He competes on every possession and has good physical tools, standing 6-8 with a 6-10 wingspan, and is also a terrific rebounder on both ends of the floor. He’s a pretty versatile guy all in all, picking up a good number of blocks and steals to go along with his nice assist numbers.

His pedigree is another thing NBA teams will likely appreciate, having reached two Final Fours and being part of one of the most overachieving NCAA teams seen in recent memory. Despite a slew of injuries, Morgan missed only a handful of games over the last three years, showing the capacity for playing through pain, even if it wasn’t the smartest thing he could do long-term.

All in all, Morgan is not a player that is likely to get drafted at this point with his pedestrian numbers and clear-cut tweener status. If a player like Marcus Landry can make an NBA team and stick on a roster for almost an entire season, though, there’s no reason why a similar but more talented prospect like Morgan can’t. More likely, he’ll end up overseas and will make some old-school European coach very happy with the terrific blend of smarts, fundamentals and toughness he brings to the table.

Michigan State’s Raymar Morgan showed that he was worthy of being invited on the first Portsmouth go-around instead of having to wait for a last minute nod, putting up a strong 17 point, 10 rebound, 3 assist performance in his first outing. Morgan looked a lot more athletic than we remembered him, finishing emphatically around the rim repeatedly and crashing the offensive glass ferociously with an excellent second bounce. He played with a chip on his shoulder just like you would expect a Tom Izzo pupil to, but did so in a controlled and intelligent manner, even showing some perimeter skills by creating his own shot off the dribble in transition. Morgan is a guy we wrote plenty about early in his career but cooled on significantly as injuries took their toll and his numbers fell off. It will be interesting to see how he looks over the next two games. It’s amazing to think that he was playing in the Final Four in Indianapolis just five days ago.

Raymar Morgan made tremendous strides during his sophomore campaign with the Spartans, improving significantly in nearly every statistical category without seeing an increase in playing time. The athletic small forward became even more of a fixture in Tom Izzo’s offense than he was as a freshman, leading the team in scoring while seeing his shooting percentage jump from 48% to 55% even when taking more shots per game. With the departure of Drew Neitzel, Morgan will have to shoulder even more of a load for Michigan State and has the potential to have an All-Big Ten caliber season. He was outstanding in the first half of the season last year and then saw his numbers drop off dramatically in the second half (particularly in the NCAA tournament), and will need to be consistent all year long for the Spartans to have the type of season many are expecting.

At 6’7”, Morgan has average size for the small forward position, but compensates for this with his length and solid athleticism. He has good open floor speed and quickness, but his weak ball handling skills slow him down considerably and prevent him from being more of an offensive threat. His wiry 225 pound frame is much stronger than it looks and this allows Morgan to finish with contact around the basket at a tremendous rate and to post up smaller players.

As was the case last season, one of the biggest areas that Morgan needs to continue working on is his range. He has shown continual improvement in his ability to connect from mid-range as a catch and shoot player. His release point is inconsistent, but quick enough that he can get his shot off against most defenders. Morgan gets into trouble when he tries to create for himself off the dribble; usually he winds up off balanced, firing a line drive at the basket. He still isn’t much of a threat from beyond the perimeter, attempting just 33 shots from beyond the arc last season and connecting on 10 of them.

Morgan’s ability to score effectively in the post makes him a versatile scorer. His strength and athleticism allow him to back down smaller opponents on the block. While he doesn’t have any developed post moves, he shows pretty good instincts when playing with his back to the basket. Morgan does tend to panic and make poor decisions when he is doubled down low though.

Rebounding and versatility continue to be the appealing aspects of Morgan’s defensive game. Last season he pulled down over 6 boards per game and that was without ever really doing an effective job of boxing out opponents. If he can add proper technique to his length and aggressiveness, there is no reason to think that Morgan can’t be among the Big Ten’s top rebounders. He also does well covering various types of players, whether it be bodying up power forwards or guarding more perimeter based players on the wing. He does struggle from time to time with his lateral quickness going up against quicker matchups though.

Morgan has already done himself plenty of good in regards to making an impression on NBA scouts, this season he can make the leap from promising underclassmen to legitimate pro prospect. If he can become a more consistent shooter from 18 feet and improve his ball-handling skills, Morgan will show that he’s fully made the transition from power forward to small forward.

After a fine debut season in college, Morgan has bumped his play up with his expanded role in the Spartan offense. Now in his second year, he has become the focal point in Michigan State’s offense, leading his squad to a 19-2 record, while posting impressive numbers individually as well. While he is nowhere near a finished product, Morgan has continued to make strides in adjusting to the small forward slot from his natural position of power forward.

Since we last wrote about Morgan, not a whole lot has changed in terms of his progress as a prospect. Like many young players, his consistency has been up and down. The 31 and 23 point performances he posted against Minnesota and Northwestern were paired with two single digit performances, along with a 10 point outing in MSU’s lowly 36 point game against Iowa.

Showing the ability to beat his matchup inside with his strength and athleticism, Morgan has no problem sliding down to the power forward spot when needed for MSU. He can turn to either shoulder and overpower most small forwards when in the pivot. The Ohio native’s non-stop motor and hustle make him a very tough guard for most forwards.

Raymar has continued to show improvement on his mid-range jumpshot this year, proving to be capable of converting both coming off of screens and off the bounce. He gets a very good release on his mid-range shot making it tough to defend, and it is beginning to emerge as his go to scoring move from the perimeter. With so many NBA teams doubling down in the post today, Morgan’s promising ability to hit the 18 footer will help him greatly in the eyes of NBA scouts.

Morgan has been equally as versatile on the defensive end, where he has shown promise guarding both perimeter players and post players. Equally as impressive has been the potential that Morgan has shown at times as a rebounder, where he ranks well amongst the top small forwards in rebounds per 40 minutes pace adjusted. Boxing out is especially key for Raymar in this area however, given that he could easily average one or two rebounds per game if he checked his man out on a more consistent basis.

While he is impressive in so many areas of the game, we are not ready to call him a true small forward for the NBA level just yet. Much like Danny Granger a few years back at New Mexico (after his transfer from Bradley), Morgan is still developing the skill of breaking people down from the perimeter and is expanding the range on his outside jumper. He still struggles handling the ball when forced to put the ball on the floor more than two or three times in a straight line, lacking any creativity off of the bounce. His three point shot is still not quite there, with Morgan making only 5 three-pointers thus far this season, on 25% accuracy.

While this has been a very promising year for Morgan so far, and Michigan State has established itself as the team to beat in the Big Ten, he could certainly use at least another year on the collegiate level to shore up his perimeter skills. The arrival of top 15 recruit (and former AAU teammate) Delvon Roe will allow Morgan to play the small forward position on more of a full time basis next season, giving him an opportunity to further cement his name in the minds of NBA scouts, after getting off to a great start in his first two years as a Spartan.

After a solid freshman season for the Spartans, people had big expectations for Michigan State entering this season. Along with the lofty expectations for the team, the same can be said for small forward Raymar Morgan. The sophomore has responded thus far this season, proving to be one of the more efficient scorers in college basketball, while showing improvement in other aspects of his game. Though there is a long way to go before the end of the college season, Morgan could really make some noise if he continues this level of production.

Physically, the Spartan forward has a body that can be described as NBA-ready. He carries 225 pounds on a well-developed frame, and has clearly spent a good deal of time in the weight room. Morgan also possesses ideal length, with long arms that assist him on both ends of the floor.

Offensively, the numbers have been off the charts across the board so far this season. A shooting percentage of more than 60% and 1.72 points per shot are just two of the statistics that describe the way Morgan has played this year. The sophomore scores a number of his points off the dribble, and he effectively pulls up off the dribble from mid-range. He has only taken nine three pointers so far this season, but his aggression going to the basket off the dribble and in transition has led to nearly seven free throw attempts per game. Morgan loves to run the court in transition, and shows crafty finishing ability inside, thanks to his body and very effective footwork. The sophomore also uses the pump-fake well to get his defender out of position.

Morgan posted low assist numbers last season, averaging less than one per game. This season, he has displayed an improved feel for finding the open man, and has even made the extra pass a few times in transition. He still turns the ball over fairly often, usually due to poor half-court reads and drives into traffic.

To really improve his stock the rest of the year, the second year forward will need to prove he can hit the three-pointer with consistency. The range on his shot didn’t extend consistently past 20 feet last season, and his awkward mechanics may limit his ability to shoot the long ball. Many scouts have questioned his ball-handling ability as well. It seems that Morgan needs a good deal of space to get to the basket, but rarely accelerates past the defense off the dribble in isolation situations.

Morgan has started well this season, but a run into the NCAA Tournament will go a long way in helping his draft stock. He has a great feel for how to put the ball in the hoop, and his body can already be described as NBA ready. The sophomore will look to land in the first round when he declares, but how high he can go has yet to be determined.

Despite being just a freshman, Raymar Morgan was an essential piece of Michigan State’s NCAA tournament last year. He’ll be looked upon even more as the Spartans attempt an even deeper run this season, possibly to the Final Four. On the individual side, Morgan possesses an interesting skill-set and shows the potential to develop into an effective player at the next level.

Morgan already possesses a versatile offensive repertoire at his stage of development. An efficient scorer, Morgan averaged 11.6 points per game shooting 49% percent from the field and 31% from beyond the arc. His field goal percentage is impressive because of the way he gets a good amount of his points: from mid-range. Very few freshmen (or upperclassmen) forwards have the type of mid-range game that Morgan possesses. With a refined instinct for moving off the ball and coming off screens (particularly flex cuts) to find an open shot, he can catch and shoot on the move from anywhere inside the arc due to his quick release and elevation. However, his form could use some work, especially the further he moves. He has a tendency to cock the ball from behind his head, as well as kick his legs out on his shooting motion, which results in wasted movement and particularly an inconsistent release point. It is most evident in his 3-point shooting. He often ends up pushing the ball and overshooting because he is not comfortable yet in his shooting motion. A guy who has the ability and tools that Morgan possesses should be a far better 3-point shooter, but he will struggle from this area until he improves his mechanics.

Morgan loves to push the ball on fast breaks and, though he is not incredibly explosive, is a good finisher with either hand. He does a good job of drawing contact as well, and when he gets fouled, he makes his foul shots at 69%: not a great number, but a percentage he is certainly able to improve.

Morgan has a nose for finding open spots in unbalanced defenses to get to the rim, using the baselines in particular to attack the basket. Possessing solid athleticism, and good body control, he is able to get points in a variety of ways around the basket. In fact, it would be nice to see him use his physical ability more often because there aren’t many players that can compete with him at the NCAA level. He doesn’t spend much time in the post, though when he does, he has questionable touch, but undeniable potential. At 6’7”, 220 lbs, he certainly has the size to log minutes in the post, but with Michigan State’s front line, it might not be entirely necessary.

Though his numbers don’t suggest it (5.2 rebounds/game), he is also a good rebounder on both ends of the floor. He is constantly in the mix for rebounds and utilizes his athleticism to really be a force under the basket. In fact, Morgan really moves well on both sides of the floor. He rarely looks lost on the floor and this is another intriguing element of his game thus far. He is a scrappy player at this point in his development and his effort is usually high on both sides of the court.

This is not to say that Morgan is a finished prospect. He has a long way to go. His ball-handling skills in particular could use plenty of work. When he’s slashing to the basket, he often looks out of control, and thus hardly pays attention to anything besides himself and the basket. This also makes it tough for him to pull up off the dribble from mid-range amongst traffic, as he does not currently possess the ball control to do so. Combined with a bad handle, this results in turnovers as he dribbles into traps, often while teammates are also cutting towards the basket. He has a bad habit of moving before he dribbles as well, resulting in far too many unnecessary travels.

Morgan’s passing ability is similarly flawed. He does not make crisp passes and when he passes the ball, he has a tendency to have his passes intercepted by opposing backcourt players. He averaged 2.5 turnovers per game last season compared to 0.8 assists. His overall court awareness, shot selection, and basketball IQ must improve if he is going to be able to achieve his potential.

His defense also needs some work. He has nice length, fundamentals, toughness and strength, but he needs to do a significant amount of work to become a good perimeter defender—having mostly guarded power forwards for most of his career. Last season, he gave his man too much room and sometimes was out of position on the perimeter. He reached in a lot, as well, resulting in unnecessary fouls. Another testament to his youth is how easy savvy scorers got him to bite on fakes. This will improve with maturity, though. He really does look like he could evolve into a solid defensive player at the next level because of his physical tools and awareness. After all, as said before, he is already a scrappy player and plays all over the floor with high energy.

A big season is expected out of Michigan State and Morgan’s improvements are essential in order for the Spartan’s to succeed. This season will be considered a test to see if Morgan’s intriguing combination of skills, toughness, and potential will translate to an NBA atmosphere.

Sharing a bit of a similar profile and duties with Donte Green, Raymar Morgan was one of the small forwards that the US Team used in a combo-forward role during the tournament. Standing around 6-7, strong, showing solid athleticism, he's not a greatly talented player, but he can do the basics, such as shoot the ball out to the three-point line (not always consistently), put the ball on the floor, play good defense and stay strong in the rebounding area. Nothing spectacular, but still useful for his team.