If you want to win an NCAA title you usually need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The McDonald’s All-American Game has been canceled during each of the past 2 years due to COVID but hopefully the 3rd time is indeed the charm to see everyone back on the court in Chicago on March 29th. The rosters were announced on January 25th after selecting the 24 best high school basketball players in the nation from a list of almost 800 nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact this fall just ask Coach Bruce Pearl how he likes having 2021 honoree Jabari Smith at Auburn! Duke seems to be the big winner so far as Coach Jon Scheyer will inherit a trio of 2022 honorees to join him in Durham next season. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Arterio Morris about being named a McDonald’s All-American and facing a fellow honoree on the court just yesterday.
As a junior at Kimball High School you scored 19 PTS in the 5A state title game but Terrance Arceneaux made the game-tying 3 over 2 defenders with 1 second left in regulation and the game-winning 3 in the final seconds of OT to clinch a 1-PT win as Beaumont finished 31-0 (www.12newsnow.com/article/sports/high-school/hs-basketball/state-champions-arceneauxs-heroics-gives-beaumont-united-5a-title/502-020f08a5-282c-4c3b-81fe-7510fe99ebf0): did you think that either of his shots were going in, and where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? Not really: I did not think he would hit those back-to-back shots. It was 1 of the craziest games that I have ever been in.
After that season you were allegedly offered $100,000 to join the Overtime Elite pro basketball league: why did you turn it down, and do you have any regrets? I just wanted to experience college and stay close to my family so I have no regrets.
What has been the hardest part of being a basketball player during a pandemic? It is very hard. Some days you can get into the gym and some days you cannot. It is hard to just be yourself since everyone has to wear a mask and it is hard to travel around.
You originally committed to Memphis before reopening your recruitment last January and received offers from several great schools including Georgia/Kansas/Oregon but signed with Texas last November: what was the biggest factor in your decision? My mindset at the start of the year was that I did not have to play my best because I already had a scholarship. After reopening my recruitment I played a lot harder and eventually clicked with Texas.
The Longhorns got a new coach last spring in Chris Beard: what is he like? He is a great coach and would call/text me with good messages either before/after my games.
Texas is expected to lose several senior guards to graduation this spring including Andrew Jones/Courtney Ramey: should we expect to see you in the starting lineup on opening night next fall? Definitely!
On January 25th you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It means a lot to me. I put in a lot of hard work with a lot of blood/sweat/tears.
You are part of 1 of the best recruiting classes in the nation thanks to the Longhorns bringing in another McDonald’s All-American next year in Dillon Mitchell: how well do you know him, and what makes him such a good player? I just played against him yesterday (www.youtube.com/watch?v=erO3sTSYe5k)! He can shoot/score/defend and I will throw a lot of lobs to him next season.
You are 6’3”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I play both PG/SG now but will be more comfortable at PG in college.
1 of your close friends/former teammates is Keyonte George, who was also named a McDonald’s All-American: how did you guys lose any games last season with so much talent on the court, and how do you feel about facing him twice next year in conference play when he is at Baylor? We did not lose that many games! Facing him in conference play will feel good because we both put it in a lot of work and it is time to show it to everybody.