Motivational Story - Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies / NBA)



Greetings! With this piece, I want to rattle off some small college names…. Mississippi Valley State, Jackson State, Metro Community College, Davidson College, Weber State University … each of these institutions won the Lottery many years ago when Scouts for the supposed Big Boy Schools decided these high school athletes didn’t have the makeup to gain a D-1 scholarship.

Each player has either gained access to their sports league Hall of Fame or will be soon? This list includes the names of Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, Albert Pujols, Steph Curry and Damian Lillard. The emphasis of this piece is to remind you that your skill set is not dependent on having to play with a juggernaut type of program? All it takes is one ‘set of eyes’ to change the course of your destiny – during a game or at a practice session!

This story will lend credence that rankings do not make a player? Four years ago, this high school basketball player couldn’t even get a scholarship offer? He was seen as a 2-Star recruit at best? ESPN Rivals and 247 Sports scouting reports actually passed on this player. So did every single D-1 program.

Today, that passed over player, is already considered the “face” of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA franchise at the tender age of 20. Meet JA MORANT! The one scholarship offer he did receive came from tiny Murray State University in Kentucky. His college basketball arena would only seat 5,500 fans. The city of Murray’s population was 19,000.

Credit the assistant coach for the school. He was scouting a tournament in Spartanburg, South Carolina and came to watch another player. It was during a run to an inside concession stand to get some lunch when the coach spotted some players engaging in a 3-on-3 game away from any fans where Morant stood out! The coach waited for Morant outside the facility and offered him a scholarship to Murray State right in the parking lot.

Never let your rankings or league feel like you have a mountain to climb? Life is about progression. It’s a Dare to Believe that something inside You is bigger than the circumstances you’re facing. Your attitude keeps you going or it can cripple your progress?

Jim Loria


MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES RELATING TO THIS STORY 

“To perceive the world differently, we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds" - authored by William James, an 1800’s American philosopher and psychologist

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“The minute you are satisfied with where you are …. You are not there anymore” – stated by former San Diego Padres great Tony Gwynn, who played 20 Major League Baseball seasons, won eight batting titles and a permanent shrine in the Hall of Fame

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“Failure will never overtake me if my Determination to Succeed is strong enough” – stated by an unknown author


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