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| (via Sam Morris) |
"They were my first choice from the beginning. I'm excited about it" Morant said. The 6-9 forward made the decision after his campus visit to FGCU this past weekend.
"It was one of the best visits I've been on," Morant said. "The whole time I was down there, they made me feel like I was home already before I even committed.
After red-shirting his first season with the Rebels, Morant appeared in 13 games in 2013-14, averaging just 3.8 minutes and .6 points. He decided to leave the UNLV program in order to be closer to his father, Leroy, who suffered a stroke and lives in Florida.
"I had a great time at UNLV," Morant said. "It was fun while it lasted but it was hard to stay dealing with my family situation. I had to go. I'm going to miss it though."
Morant has three years of eligibility remaining and will seek an NCAA hardship waiver in order to play immediately in Fort Myers, which won't be unfamiliar territory.
With Bishop Gorman High School, Morant, and teammate Shabazz Muhammad, competed twice in the City of Palms Classic, a tournament located near Florida Gulf Coast. 247Sports Composite ratings ranked Morant as a three star and the 18th best center in the class of 2012. The Eagles recruited him out of high school, but he eventually choose the Rebels over Memphis, Texas A&M, and New Mexico.
Now, the top-150 recruit and Miami, Fla. native is headed back to the Sunshine State to don the Eagles' blue and green. In his interview with the Eagles Nest last week, he noted the drastic difference a couple years makes.
"FGCU's [status] changed a lot knowing a school so young made it to the Sweet Sixteen. That made me look at them even more. Wow, if they add more talent around them like me and a couple more players, who knows what could happen," Morant said last week.
"I'm very used to that. I play great in transition" Morant said of Dunk City's iconic style of play. "I'll be a great fit for this program.
He joins guard Christian Terrell, guard Zach Johnson, and center Eric Moeller in the FGCU's 2014 recruiting class. Morant and Moeller, along with 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman Logan Hovey and 6-foot-8 redshirt sophomore Marc-Eddy Norelia, will fill the gaps left in the front court from the departures of Chase Fieler and Eric McKnight.
It has yet to be seen where the Eagles will first display this new talent but Furman, Iona, Xavier, FIU, and games at the Gulf Coast Showcase have all been confirmed to be on their schedule.
Morant's commitment fills the 13th and final scholarship spot for Florida Gulf Coast in the 2014-15 season. His decision also marks the fifth high high-major transfer Joe Dooley has brought to Dunk City in his two years at the helm.
“We are very excited about Demetris joining our program. He’s a tremendous young man with great potential,” Dooley said in a release. “We look forward to having the opportunity to work with him. Demetris comes from a tremendous family and has a great work ethic. He’s going to be a major part of our program as we move forward. The players in our program will enjoy getting the opportunity to have him be a part of FGCU basketball.”
“I think Demetris has outstanding potential,” Dooley said. “He needs, and will get the chance, to develop here at FGCU as a person and as a player. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
If this dunk and a high jump state title are any indication, Morant will have no problem fitting in at Dunk City.
Check out Morant's high school highlights here.
After red-shirting his first season with the Rebels, Morant appeared in 13 games in 2013-14, averaging just 3.8 minutes and .6 points. He decided to leave the UNLV program in order to be closer to his father, Leroy, who suffered a stroke and lives in Florida.
"I had a great time at UNLV," Morant said. "It was fun while it lasted but it was hard to stay dealing with my family situation. I had to go. I'm going to miss it though."
Morant has three years of eligibility remaining and will seek an NCAA hardship waiver in order to play immediately in Fort Myers, which won't be unfamiliar territory.
With Bishop Gorman High School, Morant, and teammate Shabazz Muhammad, competed twice in the City of Palms Classic, a tournament located near Florida Gulf Coast. 247Sports Composite ratings ranked Morant as a three star and the 18th best center in the class of 2012. The Eagles recruited him out of high school, but he eventually choose the Rebels over Memphis, Texas A&M, and New Mexico.
Now, the top-150 recruit and Miami, Fla. native is headed back to the Sunshine State to don the Eagles' blue and green. In his interview with the Eagles Nest last week, he noted the drastic difference a couple years makes.
"FGCU's [status] changed a lot knowing a school so young made it to the Sweet Sixteen. That made me look at them even more. Wow, if they add more talent around them like me and a couple more players, who knows what could happen," Morant said last week.
"I'm very used to that. I play great in transition" Morant said of Dunk City's iconic style of play. "I'll be a great fit for this program.
He joins guard Christian Terrell, guard Zach Johnson, and center Eric Moeller in the FGCU's 2014 recruiting class. Morant and Moeller, along with 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman Logan Hovey and 6-foot-8 redshirt sophomore Marc-Eddy Norelia, will fill the gaps left in the front court from the departures of Chase Fieler and Eric McKnight.
It has yet to be seen where the Eagles will first display this new talent but Furman, Iona, Xavier, FIU, and games at the Gulf Coast Showcase have all been confirmed to be on their schedule.
Morant's commitment fills the 13th and final scholarship spot for Florida Gulf Coast in the 2014-15 season. His decision also marks the fifth high high-major transfer Joe Dooley has brought to Dunk City in his two years at the helm.
“We are very excited about Demetris joining our program. He’s a tremendous young man with great potential,” Dooley said in a release. “We look forward to having the opportunity to work with him. Demetris comes from a tremendous family and has a great work ethic. He’s going to be a major part of our program as we move forward. The players in our program will enjoy getting the opportunity to have him be a part of FGCU basketball.”
“I think Demetris has outstanding potential,” Dooley said. “He needs, and will get the chance, to develop here at FGCU as a person and as a player. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
If this dunk and a high jump state title are any indication, Morant will have no problem fitting in at Dunk City.
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