WSSU Rams get good news about Morris

WSSU has recruited size for this upcoming season.

Center has been cleared to play by NCAA with basketball practice about to begin

By John Dell, JOURNAL REPORTER

Coach Bobby Collins of Winston-Salem State let out a big sigh of relief last week when the NCAA Clearinghouse gave the OK for center Corey Morris.

Morris, a 6-10, 255-pound center from Elizabeth City, had been waiting for the Clearinghouse to make its decision. It came down to one class from his senior year at Northeastern High School.

"I'm excited that this got cleared up," Morris said last week. "Now that I know I'll be out there, I can't wait for practice to begin."

The new-look Rams will begin practice Oct. 12. Of the six players that Collins brought in, three are 6-8 or taller.

Morris is the tallest, followed by post players Paul Davis (6-9) and McIntoche Alcius (6-8).

In Collins' first season, the Rams had one post player, but at 6-5, Jamal Durham was undersized. With the added height, Durham can move over to his more natural position at forward.

"Last year, I was posting up guys who were 6-4 or 6-5, and this year I'll have guys who are posting up 6-9 or 6-10," Collins said. "And that's going to give us a totally different look. This will allow us to do things that I've had in the past because I've always had a big man in the middle."

With returning player Julian Murphy-Long, a 6-9 walk-on, the Rams will have four players who are 6-8 or taller, which might be a first at WSSU.

Last season, the Rams suffered through the school's worst record (5-24). What made it worse was that the Rams played just five home games, although they made about $500,000 for playing some big-name programs on the road.

"We've got 14 home games this year, and that's going to bring a new flavor to us," Collins said. "Last year, in having 25 road games, we were fighting an uphill battle from the beginning. We weren't playing the school for the blind, either - we were playing teams like Georgetown and Georgia Tech."

Playing a balanced schedule and a full MEAC schedule should make things a lot easier for the Rams. They won't be eligible for the MEAC title until the 2010-11 season, but at least they are on more of a level playing field compared to last season. Another difference is that the Rams are scheduled to play all 14 home games at either Joel Coliseum or the Annex. However, because of the new pro hockey team playing at the Annex, two or three games could be moved to the Gaines Center.

Both the men's and women's team will open practice with a "Ram Madness" at 7 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the Gaines Center.

"We're excited about the first day of practice coming up," Collins said. "We are very young but very talented. We'll have a much different look than we had last year.… It's going to be a different kind of year."