He made the all-state team. The all-state tournament team, too. He made the pass that led to the winning bucket in the state semifinals. Are we missing anything? Oh yeah, he also made those free throws. The free throws. The only free throws that really mattered. Chris Morgan’s strong regular season was followed by an incredible postseason, and capped with two free throws with eight seconds left in the Class 3A state championship game to win the title for Union.
Memorable moment from the season: “Tons of them. I had so much fun with everybody. But you’re not topping the state championship because it’s so rare. A lot of people don’t realize how few people get a chance to play in a state championship game, let alone win it. Can’t say anything tops that.”
Motivation: “I felt like we had something to prove. I always feel I have something to prove. I’m usually the smallest player (5-11) on the court, and teams in Clark County don’t like us. I always feel like we’re going to go out there and prove something.”
Down one, with eight seconds left in the state championship game, Chris Morgan at the free throw line: “I just kind of elevate my game when I need to the most. I made the first one, which was more nerve-racking. Then a timeout was called. I don’t know if I was not paying attention or not. I can’t remember at all what (Union coach) Maco (Hamilton) said in the huddle. Caleb Whalen came up to me and said, ‘Just like practice.’ It was just about doing what I practice. I had all the confidence in the world I was going to make it. Luckily, I did.”
Mr. Clutch: “I played the best basketball of my career in the playoffs this year.”
In fact, he is known for saving his best for last. In 2009, Union beat Columbia River in the district title game on a buzzer-beating shot from Morgan. In the winner-to-state game in the bi-district, Morgan made two free throws with two seconds left, capping a 17-point comeback, for the win. And in the bi-district title game, Morgan made another buzzer-beater for the title. Then in 2010, the Titans won in the state semifinals and finals despite trailing in the final 10 seconds both games. Morgan’s assist led to the winner in the semis. And you know all about his freebies in the title game.
What does it mean to you to play for Union? “Union is unique, in the sense that a lot of people go to high school, and when they graduate, they’re done. The thing about Union, now that I’ve been through this experience, I’ll be a Union supporter for the rest of my life. I’ll always be checking up on what’s going on. The environment we had there, the support, just makes you want to come back and be a fan. I’ve enjoyed and loved my time there. Couldn’t have hoped for a better high school experience.”
What does basketball mean to you? “It wasn’t my biggest thing at first. I love the game more every day. I’m just more interested. I’m watching more basketball. I’m playing more. When you want to be practicing, to get better, you know you care about something. I can honestly say I love basketball now.”
Most influential coach: Union basketball coach Maco Hamilton. “People hear about his life lessons. That’s what Maco’s program has been about.” Union basketball just finished its third season, with Hamilton and Morgan together all three years. “The values he’s been teaching hasn’t changed from then until now. He cares a lot more about the adults, the husbands, we’re going to be 10 years from now than the games we win. What’s great about the coaches at Union is they honestly care about us.”
Most embarrassing moment on the basketball court: Morgan said it wasn’t embarrassing, but it was frustrating to lose an overtime game this season to rival Camas. “You want to win at all costs in that game. Whenever you lose (to Camas) people are going to talk about it in school. We lost to them in overtime this year. That kind of got to me a little bit.”
What is something about you that others might be surprised to learn? “I love to write. I had a political opinion article published in The Columbian my freshman year. I love reading.”
Feelings on being selected The Columbian’s player of the year: “It’s a great honor. It was a goal for me. It’s a goal for anybody to be picked the top player in the region.”
Favorite teacher: Jason Moore, formerly the leadership teacher at Union High School, now the dean of students at Roosevelt in Portland. “He is just one of the most intelligent people I ever met. He cares so much about his students and teaching them to be good people. He cares a lot about people, and I appreciate that.”
Met any famous people: University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker bumped into Morgan’s group several times during Spring Break in Mexico. They were staying in the same hotel.
What is a goal, associated with your sport, that you would like to accomplish in the next few years? “I want to figure out where I’m going to play next year. If I were 6-feet, 2-inches, it would be a whole different situation with my recruiting. I just want to develop. I think I have a lot more potential as a player.”
What is a goal, away from your sport, that you would like to accomplish in the next few years? “I want to get my degree. I want to major in broadcast journalism. I struggle with math and science. I’m better at the social stuff. I want to have a good time in college, wherever I go, and be successful.”
What is one thing people do not understand about your sport? “How big the difference is from level to level. From the C team to the JV team, from JV to varsity. Just the difference, the speed, the physicality, is amazing.”
Other sports for Union: Morgan made the cut at the Class 3A state golf tournament last spring. He qualified for regionals, to be played in May, and he hopes to make it back to state again this season.
Hobbies: “I love to watch movies.” His favorite of all time: “The Shawshank Redemption.” He also predicted that “The Hurt Locker” would win Best Picture this year months before the Oscars.
What will you remember most about the season? “All of the van rides up and back. Getting back late at night, just the thought I was able to be with coaches and good friends. So many memories from that. The last trip was bittersweet. We were on a high, because we won, but it was sad, as a senior, because it was the last time.”
Advice to a younger player: “Just work as hard as you can. I didn’t take basketball seriously until I was a sophomore. I was better at golf than basketball.” He scored 38 points in a game as a sophomore for Union. That’s when it hit him that basketball could be his sport. “If I started working hard and putting time in the gym, I could probably do something with it. So I would say work hard and listen to your coaches, especially if you are at Union. Those guys know what they’re doing.”
