Over the course of the summer, we are going to be highlighting an unsung hero from each of our 15 athletic programs on lagrangepanthers.com. These special student-athletes flew under the radar but were of utmost importance to the success of the team.
Morgan Grant is a workaholic, making her the perfect candidate for our first unsung hero feature of 2021.
The sophomore on the LaGrange College women's basketball team improved dramatically from her freshman year in all facets. She took advantage of every moment on the court with a superb work ethic and desire to compete during the 2021 season.
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"Morgan is a great student-athlete to coach," said LaGrange College women's basketball head coach Jasen Jonus. "She is an unselfish and friendly teammate, but also plays with an edge that athletes need to be successful. She takes great pride in her rebounding and defense. A great deal of her production comes from the simple fact that she outworks her opponent."
Grant scored in double figures twice and recorded eight or more rebounds four times. She averaged 5.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 20.8 minutes per game, appearing in all 12 games and making two starts.
The numbers only reveal part of the story, as Grant is a versatile player and perfects the little things. The 5-foot-10 forward has great rebounding instincts, a high basketball IQ, a much-improved jump shot and the ability to finish in traffic and through contact in the paint.
Grant was an efficient scorer, shooting 50.0% from the field (28 of 56). She dropped a career-high 13 points, shooting 6 of 10 from the field, at then-No. 12-ranked Maryville on Feb. 20. The Comer, Alabama, native corralled a personal-best 11 rebounds in an 85-46 triumph over visiting Covenant on Jan. 21.
Grant is an outstanding offensive rebounder, finishing tied for first on the team with 2.7 per game. The extra possessions in tight games cannot be overstated. Grant does an outstanding job of going up strong on second-chance opportunities and finding open teammates for high-quality shots.
"Two of the most underrated components of Morgan's game are her intelligence and understanding of situations," said Jonus. "She is a great player in our half-court offense, delivering the extra pass, valuing each possession and making extra-effort plays. She never forces the issue and could care less about her statistics. She earns every minute on the court. The only thing that matters to her is winning."
Assistant Sports Information Director Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
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