Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)
Kentucky junior guard Maci Morris is no stranger to playing the role of leader. The 6-0 guard has been a leader on the floor since her days at Right Fork Elementary School, where she was the best player on the floor as a fifth grader.
Morris, a native of Pineville, Ky., was so good that she joined the varsity team at Bell County High School as a seventh grader and became a starter during her eighth-grade season.
A three-time All-State performer by the Courier-Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader, Morris finished her high school career as the schools all-time leading scorer with 3,368 career points. As a senior, she was named Miss Kentucky Basketball after posting 25.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, as she led the Bobcats to the Sweet 16.
Three years later, she finds herself in a familiar position, the role of vocal leader on the court. She looks to draw from her past experiences to help lead an inexperienced group of Wildcats.
“It helps by knowing what to expect and how to handle different situations”, said Morris. “We’re going to have to be able to guide the younger players and the ones with less experience.”
Now halfway through her collegiate career, Morris feels the urgency to be the best version she can be. Known for her ability to shoot and score the basketball, her offseason priority was the defensive end.
“I mainly focused on not being a liability on defense and just knowing that my teammates and coaches can count on me,” said Morris. “Just being that go to player on offense and defense, knowing that we aren’t going to have Epps and Evelyn there, I’m just going to have to step my game up.”
Through her first two seasons in Lexington, Morris started all 66 games. As a sophomore, she finished fourth on the team in scoring with 11.8 points per game and led the Wildcats with 53 made three-pointers. She is only the second player in program history to knock down 100 or more 3s during her first two seasons. Morris was a 2016 SEC All-Freshman Team selection by league coaches and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2016 and 2017.
Basketball has always been a part of her life and her biggest supporters are her parents, Lewis and Patti Morris, who have both been successful coaches. She uses that relationship and that coaching perspective to her advantage, especially after difficult performances.
“My mom is just a fan now but my dad is still and I always think he will be the coach,” Morris said with a laugh. “He always gives me pointers after games.”
Like always, the Wildcats will play an exciting brand of basketball with the goal of using their defense to provide transition opportunities on offense. Kentucky also plays three games inside historic Rupp Arena this season, something Morris is looking forward to.
“I love playing at Rupp because the atmosphere is always insane,” said Morris. “Just being from Kentucky and knowing the history of Rupp Arena.”
When fans see Morris on the floor this season they will see a more confident player, someone who has put in the effort and work to be successful. She has accomplished a lot during her first two seasons but the former Bell County standout aims for much bigger goals before her time at Kentucky is complete.
“I definitely want to win an SEC Championship and I want to make it to the Final Four,” said Morris. “Those are my two main goals.”
Fans will get there first look at Morris and the Wildcats on Sunday, November 5th, as the Wildcats host an exhibition vs. the University of Southern Indiana. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. and admission is free.
