NBA Draft Profiles: Markieff Morris, Kansas

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Stats: 13.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 1.4 apg

Age: 21, junior

Size:

• Listed: 6'10", 240 lb
• Official: 6'7.75" (no shoes), 6'9.25" (with shoes), 6'10.75" (wingspan), 8'10.5" (reach), 241 lb

Strengths: Unlike most NBA Draft prospects, Markieff's strengths are not going to be found on the offensive side of the ball. What's most intriguing about him as a prospect is the blue-collar attitude he plays with. He is a tough and physical defensive player, and while he does not have the ideal length or quickness for an NBA power forward, he does play with a chip on his shoulder. It may be a cliched term, but defense is a mentality, and Markieff makes it personal when he is trying to stop a player one-on-one. He's also a good rebounder on both ends of the floor, again the result of his physicality in the paint. The reason that Markieff is in the conversation as a potential lottery pick this season is the way that his offensive arsenal has developed this season. He's become a more consistent and dangerous shooter from the perimeter, has shown flashes of being able to put the ball on the floor and beat a slower defender, and is a good finisher around the rim.

Weaknesses: Right now, Markieff's biggest weakness is probably his post game. As a back-to-the-basket threat, he was almost non-existent this past season. Some of that probably has to do with the fact that his brother and Thomas Robinson got the majority of the touches, but people did notice that Markieff's post finishes generally consisted of sealing his man high and finishing a pass thrown over the top of the defender. Given that he is a bit undersized for the power forward spot and as average vertical explosiveness, Markieff may never be a threat to score on the block. There are some other question marks as well. He needs to improve his ability to handle and protect the ball. He turned the ball over 2.1 times per game last season, which is very high for a forward that only played 24 mpg. And if he is truly going to be a pick-and-pop threat down the road, he could stand to become more adept at handling the ball, making him a threat in close out situations.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Marresse Speights. Similar build, frame, game, and overall type player, except Markieff can step out a little further than Speights. Both play physical and protect the paint pretty well with their length and athleticism, and while they aren’t flashy or super impressive, they are solid. This may be a stretch, but I also like the a comparison with Charles Oakley.


• Worst Case Scenario: Rich man’s Chris Richard. Richard has talent and there’s a reason he was drafted, but he just didn’t quite live up to NBA expectations for a big. Markieff will indefinitely make it in the league, but if he doesn’t, think of him as a notch above what Richard could have been in the league with his post play and D.

Outlook: Markieff doesn't have a great upside. He doesn't have the kind of size, length, or explosiveness that you tend to see in big man that are projected to go in the lottery. What makes him an attractive prospect is that you can count on him to be physical in the paint, rebound the ball, and defend. He's a blue collar player that isn't going to back down from anyone at the next level. Throw in the fact that he is able to step out and hit a jumper on the perimeter, and there is probably a role for Markieff at the next level. Another attractive part aspect of Markieff's game is that he has clearly shown the willingness to play a role if it benefits his team. He played a complimentary role to his brother at Kansas, and shouldn't have a problem doing the same at the next level.

Draft Range: Late Lottery to Mid 1st Round

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "Markieff has lived in the shadow of his brother, Marcus, for the first two years at KU. No more. Markieff was always known as the better defender -- a taller, slightly more explosive version of his brother. But this year he found his offensive rhythm as well. He actually posted a higher PER rating than Marcus, shot a pretty incredibly 42 percent from three and, at times, looked like the more surefire NBA prospect thanks to his size advantage. Markieff is a likely mid first-round pick this year. "


• Draft Express: "While Markieff Morris may not have a tremendous feel for the game or superstar potential, he has all the tools and versatility to enjoy a long NBA career and be a solid contributor on both ends of the floor. Considering his steady ascension over the course of his three year college career, he could clearly continue to improve if given the minutes necessary to feel out his game in the NBA. With a number of highly touted power forward prospects electing to return to school, the recently declared Morris will surely look even more attractive on draft day."


• Swish Scout: "Mobile post player with a great motor, rebounding ability, and defensive tenacity that will make him a great hustle player in the paint. Markieff is way too passive offensively and needs more work on his post moves, but ultimately a big man who will bring energy off the bench for a team."

Highlights:


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No. 1: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Kansas Jayhawks

2008-2009 Record: 27-8, 14-2 Big XII (1st)

Key Losses: None

Key Returners: Sherron Collins (18.9 ppg, 5.0 apg), Cole Aldrich (14.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.7 bpg), Tyshawn Taylor 9.7 ppg, 3.0 apg)

Newcomers: Xavier Henry, Jeff Withey, CJ Henry, Thomas Robinson, Elijah Johnson

Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich both may be first team all americans this year.
(photo credit: UMHoops)

Just one year removed from winning a national title and losing his top six players, Bill Self has completely retooled his roster. The Jayhawks are absolutely loaded this season. How loaded? Just take a look at the 12th, 13th, and 14th men on their roster. Travis Releford, a sophomore, was a top 75 recruit out of Kansas, picking the Jayhawks over the likes of Texas, UConn, and North Carolina. Jeff Withey, a redshirt freshman who will be eligible at the end of the 2009 semester after transferring from Arizona, was a top 50 recruit in 2008. CJ Henry was one of the best prospects of the 2005 class before choosing to play baseball in the Yankees organization. Those three guys would start for a number of Big XII schools, and may not even sniff the court for Kansas this year.

The biggest reason for the Jayhawks being the consensus number one team in the country is the inside-outside combination of Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich. Aldrich may be the most dominating presence in the paint this season. At 6'11" with the wingspan of a pterodactyl, he can control the glass and is one of the nation's best shotblockers. Offensively, he didn't show great back to the basket moves, but his jumper (despite being hideous looking) is soft and he is a good finisher at the rim. If he put in the work during the off-season, expect Aldrich to be improved on the block this year. Everyone should know about Collins. Built like a bowling ball, Collins can shoot it, he can drive to score or to pass, and he is a proven clutch performer that isn't afraid to take (and make) a big shot. Collins is a natural leader, which is perfect for a team that is still relatively young. With the amount of talent on this roster, expect Collins' scoring numbers to dip a bit this year as he spreads the ball around more.

The likely starters on the perimeter will be sophomore Tyshawn Taylor and freshman Xavier Henry. Taylor is an excellent role player to stick in the off-guard spot. He has the talent to be a 15 ppg guy, but he is used to filling a role on a loaded roster (his high school team at St. Patrick's had seven D1 players on it). He has the handle and the play-making ability to play a little bit of point guard this year, but where his biggest contribution will be is on the defensive end. His long arms and quick feet will make him a night mare for opposing two guards. Henry might be the missing piece for Self. With a dynamic point guard, size inside, and role players and shooters on the perimeter last year, the one thing this Jayhawk team was missing was a big time scoring talent on the wing. Henry, a strong, 6'6" two-guard, is exactly that. The only concern that Self will have with Henry is his attitude - will he understand that he is not "the man" on this Jayhawk team and defer to Collins and Aldrich?

The rest of the Kansas back court is talented as well. Tyrell Reed, who was the 2008 Kansas high school player of the year, is a shooter first and foremost. A coaches son, he is a smart kid that understands the game and can play a little point if necessary, but where he will be utilized by Self is as a spot-shooter on the perimeter that will help spread the floor. Mario Little is a JuCo transfer that struggled to get time on the court last season. When he did, he produced, averaging 4.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg in just 12 mpg. He is an athletic slasher that is at his best in the open floor. Brady Morningstar is a former walk-on who earned his starting spot last season. A pesky defender and excellent shooter, Morningstar may have cost himself this season with his DUI back in September. He will not return from suspension until the end of the first semester, and by then Self will likely have his rotation figured out.

Of this group, Elijah Johnson probably has the most upside. Similar to a guy like Collins, Johnson is a solidly built, 6'2" point guard. He's explosive, he can get to the rim, he can shoot it from deep, and he makes the game look effortless. His issue is that he has a rep for being lazy, for coasting during games. If Self, or maybe even Collins, can light a fire in this kid, he should be a more than adequate back-up for Collins and may end up being a first round pick down the road.

The most improved players this season may end up being the Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus. Last season, the two showed flashes of potential, but they weren't big or strong enough to handle the rigors of the Big XII. But over the summer, the twins spent quite a bit of time in the weight room, adding strength, mass, and improving their athleticism in the process. Marcus is a bit more developed on the offensive end while Markieff is a better defender at this point in his career. Regardless, expect a big season out of these two as they will provide energy and athleticism for Self, both on the defensive end and on the glass.

The other guy expected to see time in the front court rotation is Thomas Robinson. At 6'9", Robinson is a fantastic athlete that can get out and fill a lane on the break. He isn't the strongest player inside right now, but he can finish above the rim and has shown a decent offensive game around the rim. Similar to Marcus Morris, Robinson can also step out and play the high post. He has a solid 15 foot jumper, and his passing and ball-handling ability will make him a difficult match-up for any opposing post.

Outlook: Kansas had a bit of a tumultuous off-season, as the basketball team's multiple skirmishes with the Jayhawk football team made national headlines. But as much of an issue and as big of an embarrassment as it was for Bill Self, some took it as a good sign. This wasn't one guy on an island fighting 60-some football players. This was the whole team having the back of a couple players with an issue. While there were certainly better ways to solve the issue than to take it to fists, Self has to be happy that he has a team that is close-knit enough that they didn't hesitate to have each other's back. I don't think that it will be much of a distraction at this point. The bigger issue is going to be how Self handles having this much talent on his roster. Will there be enough shots and minutes to go around to keep everyone happy? If he can manage and massage egos, Kansas looks like the clear cut favorite to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.
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UPDATE - This offseason just keeps getting better for Kansas

And you thought things couldn't get more complicated for the Jayhawks.

About a month ago, Markieff Morris got in a car accident. Nothing major, it was a minor collision as he was trying to make a left. No one was injured. He was sober.

Plenty of college kids get in minor fender-benders. What's the big deal?

The car Morris was driving was registered to Scot Pollard. Former Jayhawk and current NBA player Scot Pollard.

Kansas is saying it is not a problem (an associate athletic director was quoted as saying "Everything is legal. It is not a compliance issue."). Apparently, Tyshawn Taylor bought the car, a 1997 Chevy Tahoe, from Pollard and was lending it to Morris.

As of right now, this looks like a non-issue from a basketball perspective. But it is a story that Jayhawk fans should keep an eye on.

UPDATE: Pollard is quoted in this morning's KC Star:

"I Blue-Booked it, gave him a fair price," Pollard said. "He was complaining a little bit. I said, 'I'm not going to get you in trouble. We're going to do it fair and legal or you can come up with a cheaper car.'"

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Kansas's Morris twins are stronger than you

Playing as freshmen in the Big XII really took a toll on the bodies of Marcus and Markieff Morris last season. Coming into school at 6'8", 225lb (Marcus) and 6'9", 230lb (Markieff), the two shed weight during the season, ending the year at 213lb and 210lb, respectively.

Well, the two decided to change that this year. You see, the Big XII is a physical conference, and losing that much weight not only takes a toll on how well you can battle big bodies in the paint, it also dimishes how much of a beating your body can withstand.

Basically, the Morris twins didn't want to get pushed around as much as sophomores.

So they went to Kansas strength coach Andrea Hudy and did something about it.

Mainly, they worked their tails off all summer.

I'm talking six-days-a-week, three or four times a day, doing weight-lifting and conditioning workouts.

And it has paid off. Marcus is up 23 lbs to 236, and Markieff has packed on 34 lbs of muscle, now tipping the scales at 244. Its good weight too. Markieff is parallel squatting 415, benching 275, and can hang clean 245. Marcus squats 405, benches 285, and hang cleans 245. Their verticals have also improved, going to 31" and 30" respectively. Those are impressive numbers for basketball players that admittedly hated working out before this summer.

So not only are the twins bigger and stronger, they are more athletic and explosive than a year ago. As you might imagine, this improvement in their bodies has also given them a confidence boost.

Here's a Sherron Collins quote from the LJWorld article:

I'd say they are 75 percent better than last year — how they look, attitude, everything. I'm very impressed (with) their body definition, the way they work on the court, especially pick-up (games). Last year, as coach Self said, they weren't rebounding above the rim. Now they are dunking and trying to finish everything above the rim. It's a big improvement.

With the Morris twins providing athleticism and energy on the glass and the defensive end alongside Collins and Cole Aldrich, the Jayhawks could be scary good next season.

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