Brett Morris Adds Another First to WCHS Record Books

Webster County High School senior Brett Morris holds just about every basketball record imaginable.

Today, Morris expanded the record book yet again when the West Virginia Sports Writers Association selected him for the second year in a row to be on the first team Class AA all-state basketball team. On top of that, he was honored with the distinction of being named the captain of the team.

Contacted today, Morris said "this is probably the number one thing I've accomplished this far! This is a great honor I don't think I would trade it for anything."

In the past two years, Morris helped his Highlander team post a combined record of 41 wins and 7 losses, with one Regional and two Sectional Championship titles. Morris was selected to the first team all-state Class AA squad last year, a first in the school's history.

Morris is the all-time leading scorer in Highlander history, having started every game since his freshman year. He broke the 1,000 point plateau in his last regular season game of the 2011-12 season and easily eclipsed the all-time scoring record (boys and girls teams) this season against Pikeview. Also, this past season, against the then 10th ranked Roane County Raiders, Brett scorched the nets with the all-time single game scoring record of 49 points.

Brett led the Highlanders this past season in all statistical categories, which included 25.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.5 steals and 4.6 blocks per game. One other statistic that is not necessarily carried on the records books is this: Of the 23 games played this year, Brett controlled the opening tip off for his team in 21 of the 23 games.

Throughout this past season, Morris has been highly recruited by a number of colleges, including West Virginia Wesleyan, Davis & Elkins, Glenville State, Randolph, and Marietta to name a few. Brett said he is still undecided about a college, but is leaning toward Fairmont, Davis & Elkins, or Wesleyan.

Brett was joined on the first team by sophomore Devonti Birch of Robert C. Byrd, junior Lykel Collier and junior Anthony Eades of State Champion Bluefield, sophomore Levi Cook of Liberty Raliegh, senior Travon Horton of Fairmont Senior, senior Mackenzie Martin of Chapmanville, and senior Tyler Sprouse of Bridgeport.

Last year, when Brett was selected to the first team, we printed this article:

Webster County Highlanders' junior guard Brett Morris was recently named by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association to the first team of the Class AA all-state basketball team. 

Morris was the third leading scorer in the state in Class AA, averaging 23.8 points per game. He also averaged 9.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 4.1 blocked shots, and 2.5 steals per game.

In the history of the Webster County High School, Morris is the first member of the boys' basketball team to earn first team all-state honors.

Morris was contacted about what this honor means to him. "It means a lot to me and it shows that anyone from any small area can do it if they just keep working," he said. Morris attributed his personal success "to my parents for taking me all over the country to play and the rest is on God."
To obtain the first team selection, Morris said he "worked hard all season and last off season. It just shows you that hard work pays off."

According to an article by the Associated Press in the Charleston Gazette, "Morris was one of the best-kept secrets in West Virginia" as he led the Highlanders to the State Tournament.

When reached for comment about Brett's selection, head coach Jerry Dean said that he was quoted at the beginning of the basketball season with the same belief that Morris is a best-kept secret, at least to those outside of the local area.

Dean was "elated" about Morris making the first team, stating it was well deserved. "Overall, he is a great kid to coach, with a lot of insight about the game, and he is like another coach out on the court."

"Aside from his scoring, Brett delivers the ball well, has great presence on the court, and is a good leader. Even when other teams design their defenses to stop him, Brett figures it out in different ways, and in doing so helps make his teammates play even better," Dean added.

Contacted separately, assistant coach Eddie Mazzella echoed many of Dean's comments. 

"Brett is as good a defensive player as he is on offense. He is always asking questions, always suggesting things during games even before we coaches do, and he is like another coach on the floor," Mazzella said.

Mazzella noted that in addition to his all-state selection, Morris was named to the first team All-Coalfield Conference. Webster is one of 13 teams in the Coalfield Conference.

Junior Hunter Given was named to the second team All-Coalfield Conference, and seniors Andrew White and Chris Miller were named to the Honorable Mention list.

Morris was joined on the all-state first team by Shady Spring junior Chase Connor. Connor led the state in scoring at 28.3 points per game. Tug Valley, Webster's opponent at the State Tournament, landed two players on the first team: senior Mason Pack and junior Mikey Newsome.

Rounding out the first team were Bluefield's Anthony Eades, Wyoming East's Marcus Schofield, Tolsia's Jacob Copley, and Magnolia's Mark Winters.