The Journey Back ... Freshman Jordan Morgan
8/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Brad Rudner, U-M Athletic Media Relations
Jordan Morgan wasn't doing much when he injured his knee. He was only walking.
"It was just one of those things," Morgan said of the injury to his left knee. "It was something I was predisposed to and over time it got weaker. I really wasn't doing much to it."
However, it was an injury serious enough to sideline him from basketball-related activities and have him make adjustments during his early time attending classes in Ann Arbor. Morgan underwent surgery to repair articular cartilage in his left knee onJuly 1 at the U-M Hospital, and came out of it with an initial timetable of rehabilitation and recovery slated at four to five months.
Not the way he wanted to start his first season in Ann Arbor.
But with each passing day, Morgan's spirits get brighter. Initially, he thought his injury might prevent him from competing in his freshman season with the Wolverines, but he knows that can be up to him. In the nearly four weeks since his surgery, Morgan has been rehabbing his left leg while shifting focus to improving other aspects of his physical condition, mainly his upper body strength.
He won't be allowed to walk without crutches for another few weeks, but that is not stopping him from doing whatever he can to get back.
"The coaching staff has been incredibly positive and supportive," Morgan said. "Honestly, the situation with my knee is in my hands. It depends on how hard I work and what I can physically do now. The knee is going to heal, but I just have to push myself to the limit when it's ready to go."
Since his injury, Morgan has worked with athletic trainer John DoRosario for two hours per day six days a week. One hour is spent rehabbing the injury and the other hour is split between pool conditioning and weight training. So far, everything DoRosario has seen from Morgan has been positive.
"He's had a great attitude throughout this whole process," DoRosario said. "It's a testament to his character and his background. He wants to come back and he's doing everything we've asked him to do."
Pushing himself is something Morgan has always done. In fact, Morgan was the first member of the Wolverines' six-person recruiting class when he verbally committed as a junior back in December 2007. He made it official 11 months later, signing in November of 2008 andignoring late recruiting pushes from some rival Big Ten institutions and Atlantic-10 powerhouse Xavier.
One of the main factors in ending his recruitment at an early stage was the relationship he developed with Michigan's head coach, John Beilein.
"It was Coach," Morgan said. "Just talking to him, you know he's a great coach. He sold me on the program and pointed out things that other people didn't. You can see he has a real eye for talent."
Morgan was a two-sport star growing up, playing baseball and basketball. But it was when he started playing organized basketball at age 10 that he began to show people the bright basketball future he was destined to have.
As he moved into high school, Morgan towered over his opposition as a freshman, standing at 6' 6". At University of Detroit Jesuit High School, Morgan was the go-to player, a three-year varsity starter who averaged 14.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game for his career to go along with 2.3 blocks. He ended his career as a nominee for the McDonalds All-America team and was invited to the NBA Players Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Va., last year.
After graduating high school and heading to Ann Arbor this summer for the Summer Bridge program, the now 6' 9", 240-pound Morgan looked forward to taking the next step with his Wolverine teammates, but his early-season injury has temporarily delayed what he was brought in to do.
Morgan's size makes him an interesting fit for Michigan's offense. While Beilein's system mostly calls for his big guys to be able to shoot from long range, Morgan goes against the grain, preferring to play with his back to the basket.
But like his teammates, Morgan is extremely versatile on the court, as he's able to pull up for a mid-range jumper or put the ball on the floor and penetrate into the lane.
"I'll do anything," Morgan said on playing. "If coach needs someone to go in and grab a rebound, I'll do it. If he needs me to go in and just play defense, I'll do it."
It is that mentality that has helped Morgan become of the one of key additions to the Michigan program. Despite the setback, he is going to do what has to be done to get back to the court -- and what a walk that will be.
Behind the Lines Series
Part 5: The Interesting Choice ... Freshman Blake McLimans
Part 4: The Locker Room Conversation ... Freshman Josh Bartelstein
Part 3: Right In His Backyard ... Freshman Eso Akunne
Part 2: Embracing the Cross-Country Move ... Freshman Darius Morris
Part 1: Bringing the Shooter's Touch ... Freshman Matt Vogrich
