<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>Ohio's Morgan Finishes Red-Hot Summer <HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1></TD></TR><TR><TD>Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Staff </TD><TD noWrap align=right>  </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Before Raymar Morgan left for Las Vegas late last week, he told Spartanmag.com that the only thing he desired to accomplish yet this summer was winning the NIKE Main Event. The Canton (OH) McKinley star nearly got his wish.
After sweeping through a talented group of opponents in pool play at the Main Event, the Morgan-led Shooting Stars won four consecutive games in bracket play to reach the tournament's Final Four. They then fell to eventual Main Event champion Friend of Hoop Seattle, 70-55, in the tournament semifinal.
"In every single game, at least one of our guys played as well I've seen them play this summer," said Shooting Stars coach Percy Robinson. "In a couple of games, we had all our guys play at that type of level. It was a great tournament, maybe the best we've played all summer."
Morgan continued to compete at an elite level, and played far above his Rivals.com ranking of the No. 85 player in the Class of 2006.
"Raymar was outstanding," Robinson said. "He was able to do pretty much whatever he wanted to do. If they played off him, he shot it well. If they played him tight, he would put it on the floor and drive to the basket. He had a great tournament."
<!--Start morgan, raymar 275 Image--><SCRIPT ********************>document.write(insertImage('ht tp://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/951/250176.jpg', '250176.jpg', 0, 361, 275, 1, 'Raymar Morgan offers versatility on offense and defense, and a habit of winning.', 'Jim Comparoni', 1122452215000, 'morgan, raymar 275', 951, 'Align=Left'));</SCRIPT><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=283 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=277> </TD><TD width=6 rowSpan=4> </TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>Jim Comparoni</TD></TR><TR><TD height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Raymar Morgan offers versatility on offense and defense, and a habit of winning.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- End morgan, raymar 275 Image-->The tournament, which took place July 22-26, featured more than 270 of the nation's top summer basketball teams. And the Shooting Stars opened play against one the field's best teams in the Houston Hoops.
Morgan and teammate Marcus Johnson each scored 18 points in the tournament opener, as the Shooting Stars upended the Hoops, 78-74. "That was a game that could have gone either way, really," Robinson said. "Both teams really wanted that win, and I think it took a lot of both of our teams."
One of the nation's most highly-regarded programs, Houston features the potent inside-out combination of 5-foot-11 point guard Nic Wise and 6-foot-7 forward Gary Johnson. Ranked No. 142 in 2006, Wise is committed to Arizona and is widely considered the top senior point guard in Texas. Gary Johnson is the No. 28 ranked player and the top-ranked player in Texas for the Class of 2007.
After edging Houston, the Shooting Stars began to roll. Morgan and his crew next posted double-digit victories over Wisconsin Playground Warriors and Sam Rines Basketball White to emerge from pool play undefeated.
"From Houston until our last game, we dominated everybody we played," Robinson said. "I couldn't be happier with the way we played. Our game against Houston was the best, but we were very good until our last game."
Unscathed after pool play, the Shooting Stars opened bracket play with a 70-45 victory over Massachusetts Premier Gold. They then dispatched the Minnesota Swoosh and sliced up the Cuttino Mobley Philadelphia Studs to reach the Elite Eight.
In the Elite Eight, the Shooting Stars faced their toughest competition outside of Houston in the Portland Elite Legends, which feature two Top 5 standouts from '07 in Lake Oswego's Kevin Love and South Medford's Kyle Singer.
The Shooting Stars eclipsed Portland, 76-69, to advance to the Final Four, before falling 70-55 to eventual champion Friend of Hoop.
Robinson and his team were disappointed to see their run end in the Final Four. The Shooting Stars coach felt his team had all the necessary components to knock off the Spencer Hawes-led Friend of Hoop.
"That is a team that I think we beat on most days," he said. "That's not to take anything away from those guys because they played well. But I think we just ran out of gas. We had tough games against Houston and Portland, and I think we got tired."
The Main Event marked the last game of the summer for the Shooting Stars, who made the Elite Eight or Final Four in most of the tournaments they played.
"The success of our team is built on our defense," Robinson said. "We build everything around that. I don't believe in playing zone, either. We play hard-nosed man defense and that's how we win games."
What Lies Ahead
No more games will be played this summer, but Robinson plans on holding meetings with his players from time to time to discuss their progress and their upcoming college choices.
Morgan - a 6-8 athlete with the ability to slash, lead the break with the dribble, and play defense at a variety of positions - still lists Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan as his three leaders.
Robinson is certain that Morgan is going to have a difficult with his decision. "Right now, Raymar isn't saying no to anybody. He is letting them all come to the table," he said. "But I think that will change fairly soon. Things are going to pick up quickly."
Michigan State remains in very good standing with Morgan and his family. "Raymar isn't naming a leader, so it's not fair for me to say what I think," Robinson said. "Michigan is recruiting him very hard right now, and I know he'll look at Ohio State. But no matter how hard those guys work, they can't outwork Tom Izzo. When other teams send assistants, Izzo is there in person. I have to believe makes an impression."
According to his coach, Morgan still plans on taking his visits in September. Michigan State, Michigan, and Ohio State could all get visits from Morgan, who may also take a visit to UConn.
The Huskies have talked about offering soon, and Robinson expects them to do so in the next week or two. When they do offer, UConn will likely move up Morgan's list.
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