Kentucky got its third transfer portal commitment of the offseason from Georgia Tech point guard Tonie Morgan. The 5-foot-9 senior will bring experience at a position that really needs some, especially with Maddyn Greenway not arriving until the 2026-27 season.
But this is Tonie Morgan, not quite yet Maddyn Greenway time.
So, let’s go into the KSR Film Room and learn her game a bit by watching some of her tape. We did the same with Josie Gilvin and Asia Boone, and we’ll do so for any future commits Kenny Brooks is able to reel in this offseason.
Elite court vision that passes up good looks for great looks
Tonie Morgan averaged a career-high 5.6 assists per game this past season, and that was by no mistake.
She excels using her vision of the court to look for the best shot. She has a knack for getting into the paint (which we’ll touch on more in a moment), and that usually draws the defense’s attention to her. Someone helps from the weak side, she get double-teamed, you get it.
Then, Morgan is able to either kick the ball to an open shooter for a wide open three, or she can find someone cutting to the rim for an easy layup. Sure, she could most likely cash in on a 10-12 foot jumper, but she’s very good at finding the best available shot on any given possession.
Being able to beat the defender off the dribble and get downhill
If there is one thing that Morgan is really, really good at, it’s getting downhill and attacking the basket.
She is very quick on her feet and with her handle, allowing her to beat her opponent off the dribble more often than not. Then, she’s crafty and shifty enough to be able to get around some of the taller defenders down low. Morgan just has a natural ability to get to the rim.
With a game on the line or in the waining seconds of a quarter when you know you need a bucket, Morgan can and most likely will be that bucket-getter that Kenny Brooks will go to a lot of the time.
Playing with a high motor, especially on defense and in transition
Maybe it sounds cliche, but a lot of the time, the thing that separates a great player from just being a good one is that they play with a different energy — a different level of intensity that takes them to that next level.
At 5-foot-9, Morgan isn’t blessed with a great size advantage. So, she makes due where she can by being faster to the ball on a 50/50 play, hustling in transition and even chasing down someone for a block — LeBron James 2016 NBA Finals style.
Kentucky is going to need a charismatic, emotional leader. From the outside looking in, it seemed like that was Dazia Lawrence last year. Now, Morgan can be the leader that this team needs in order to be successful, all starting with the effort she gives game in and game out.
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