Ja Watch

Former Crestwood High School standout Ja Morant has come out of nowhere this season to become one of the hottest commodities in college basketball and is predicted by most to be a top 5 pick in the NBA draft should he choose to declare himself eligible after his sophomore season at Murray State. The Sumter Item will offer information on Morant in The Ja Watch throughout the rest of his season and beyond.

STAT LINE

24.6 ppg (8), 10.0 apg (1), 5.5 rpg, 1.8 spg, 50.3 FG%, 81.0 FT%, 33.6 3P%

HIS LATEST

3/9 vs Belmont in the Ohio Valley Conference championship game, W 77-65. 36 points seven rebounds, three assists.

JA'S BEST

Ja averaged 32.5 points per game in the OVC tournament, scoring 29 against Jacksonville State in the semifinal round and 36 against Belmont in the championship. Those were his seventh- and third-highest scoring totals of the season, respectively.

MO MORANT, MO MORANT, MO MORANT!

Morant is on track to become the first player since assists became an official stat in the 1985-86 season to average 20 points and 10 assists per game.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"His speed in the open court reminds me of De'Aaron Fox, who's enjoying a breakout second NBA season in Sacramento," NBC Sports Chicago's Mark Schanowski said. "If Morant is able to take advantage of NBA weight training to add strength to his 6'2", 180-pound frame, his ceiling could be in the Russell Westbrook/pre-knee injury Derrick Rose range, given his uncanny ability to finish at the rim over taller defenders and consistently get to the free throw line."

WHO'S NEXT

Morant and his Racers teammates will find that out today with the rest of the country when pairings for the NCAA tournament are announced on CBS on Sunday beginning at 6 p.m. Murray State is in the field by virtue of winning the OVC tournament. It needs to learn its seed, who it's playing and where.