Schoolcrafts Palmer and Morgan Headed West
Neither player has made their official visit yet, but Schoolcraft's Ricky Morgan and Anton Palmer have each made their college choices.
Schoolcraft Head Coach Carlos Briggs informed JUCO Junction that Morgan will attend UNLV next year, while Palmer will enroll at New Mexico State.
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Morgan, a 6-0, 185 pound point guard from Pontiac, Mich., picked UNLV over Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Southern Utah. Tulsa and New Mexico State were also involved with Morgan this spring, but he opted not to visit those schools.
Morgan will visit UNLV this weeknd, from May 6-8. He began his collegiate career at Iowa State of the Big 12.
"He wanted to get back to the level he played at when he was at Iowa State," Briggs pointed out. "He wanted to prove that he could play at that level, and erase all of the negative things that happened the first time around."
Ironically, UNLV Head Coach Lon Kruger came to Schoolcraft this spring to look at Ocelot big men Lamont Arrington (Colorado) and Marcus Johnson (Central Florida). In the end, he came away most impressed with Morgan.
"He's a point guard who has already been at the Division I level, and that's something UNLV was looking for," Briggs said. "Ricky brings leadership, experience and he's a pure point guard that thinks pass first and shoot second."
Morgan averaged 8.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and six assists per game. He shot 48 percent from the floor and 63 percent from the foul line.
As for Palmer, the 6-6, 215 pound forward from Chicago, Ill., he picked New Mexico State over Southern Utah, Arkansas State and Chattanooga.
Palmer will visit New Mexico State from May 7-9, and his only other visit of the spring was to Southern Utah with Morgan.
"Anton can score in a multitiude of ways, be it the stickback or the 15 footer," Briggs said. "New Mexico State did a good job of sticking with him, and he sees an opportunity to step in and play there."
A native of Chicago, Ill., Palmer was initially thought to be a borderline candidate for graduation. But Briggs said that Palmer needs only two classes to complete his degree requirements this summer.
Palmer averaged 14 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season, shooting 51 percent from the field and 68 percent from the foul line.
Palmer began his junior college experience at Vincennes J.C. in Indiana, but he never played for the Trailblazers in 2001-2002.
He next appeared at Butler County C.C. in Kansas during the 2002-2003 campaign, where he established himself as one of the top freshmen in the Jayhawk Conference. He then resurfaced with Schoolcraft this past summer at the Mullen Camp in Tulsa, Okla.
Both Palmer and Morgan will have two years of eligibility remaining at the Division I level.