Indiana Needs Morgan's Voice And His Game

By Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - Juwan Morgan as three-point weapon?

Could it happen?

Will it happen?

Should it happen?

All things seem possible for this Indiana junior forward, who tapped into his inner James Blackmon over the summer.

Granted, lighting up the basketball competition at the prestigious Adidas Nation camp in June isn't the same as doing it to, say, Michigan State in January, but that misses the point, which is that Morgan seems poised for a special season.

Now that leading scorer Blackmon is gone, along with ex-teammates OG Anunoby and Thomas Bryant, coach Archie Miller expects plenty from Morgan. Scoring is a big part of it.

"I think Juwan has to become an offensive threat," Miller says.

Morgan is a college career 29.4-percent three-point shooter, which wouldn't suggest perimeter stardom in the manner of Blackmon, who led IU in scoring (17.0 points) and three-point baskets (91) last season.

But Indiana has had a knack for developing shooters, and Morgan has put in the time. That showed against some of the world's top under-19 players at the Adidas Nation event in Houston. He was 8-for-13 from three-point range in three games, and averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

"One thing I did well there was shoot," Morgan says. "Every time we went down the court, my coach was telling me to shoot every time I touched it. That was kind of fun."

That coach was Utah assistant Alex Jensen, who liked what he saw from the 6-7 Morgan almost as much as Morgan appreciated the invitation to participate in this annual event, which drew more than 50 NBA scouts.

"It was a great experience playing against all the best players in college basketball, and even a few (freshmen) coming in like (Missouri's) Mike Porter," Morgan says.

"Just being able to guard those guys and going against the best gave me a measurement of where I'm at."

Here's another measure – Miller is encouraged by what he's seen from Morgan in workouts and practices.

"I think that Juwan really has an opportunity to create a new vision for himself from a basketball perspective," Miller says. "He's a tremendous kid, a hard worker. But I think he's having to learn a little bit about responsibility of production. He's going to be asked to do things and get production in a way that he hasn't, and that's been interesting to kind of see how he's developed. Not getting down on himself if things aren't going well because he's going to be needed to do things, not only with his voice, but his game."

Morgan is healthy and strong and fully recovered from the shoulder issues that limited him as a freshman. Last season he averaged 7.7 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 54.8 percent from the field. Add the potential to make a big three-point shooting jump from last year's 25.0-percent effort, and who knows what his scoring ceiling is.

Miller has an idea.

"Juwan has to become more of an offensive-minded player from a production standpoint. He's got great skills. I think he's got to do it consistently over the course of some months. I think Juwan has the ability."

Morgan is all for that.

"It's attacking each other each and every day," he says. "It's not taking plays off. I have to be aggressive. When I see something, I have to take it."

Morgan finds inspiration from Anunoby and Bryant, who gave up college eligibility for NBA opportunity. Morgan has known Anunoby (a rookie with Toronto) since the sixth grade. He's known Bryant (a Los Angeles Lakers rookie) since 10th grade.

"It motivates me a lot," Morgan says. "They're my best friends growing up and now they're living their dream. I talk to them every day. They tell me I have to get there (to the NBA), that it's the best thing, ever."

For now, though, focus is on an IU team eager to return to Big Ten championship form. Morgan says this is a tough-minded Hoosier squad, both from coaches' demands and player accountability.

"It's a testament to what (Miller has) put in place, but also the players," Morgan says. "We decided that it's time we have that leadership. Everybody has to take his own role."

Three-point weapon or not, Morgan seems ready for his.

Indiana University Athletics

Players Mentioned

OG Anunoby

Thomas Bryant

Juwan Morgan

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