A native of Dothan, Ala., Kevin Morris didn't start seriously playing basketball until middle school. The 6-foot-8, 265-pound forward played football as a child before focusing on hoops. The transition to a new sport has worked out well – the fall 2015 signee was named first-team all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He spoke with USAJaguars.com about the team's trip to Europe, what he's working on during the offseason, and how he dealt with the loss of two friends over the last six months.

When did you start playing basketball?
I actually started playing football but noticed that football wasn't going to be for me. Around 12 or 13, I started playing with the Dothan Gym Rats and different people around the Dothan area and fell in love with it. I started working on it and found myself getting better. My dad played basketball when I was little and that's when it really started. I used to run on the court during his games and that's when I started liking it. I stepped away from it, but I got back into it.

How did you choose to drop football and just focus on basketball?
I just didn't like football. I never liked it from the start, I just wanted to get out of bed and get in shape.

Take me through your journey to get to South Alabama
My sophomore year is when I really started to get recruited. I got my first offer in my 11th-grade year and I started playing on the AAU circuit after that. I went out there, got some exposure, and it just went from there. South Alabama stayed on me from the start of my recruitment. At first, I liked it but didn't love it, but once I started coming, I fell in love with it.

Why did you choose South Alabama?
They were on me the hardest and every AAU game I saw them there. At my high-school games, if they could be there, they were. Opening day of recruiting, they were there. They did a lot of great things that opened my eyes and my mother's eyes. It's hard to get her attention, but they got her attention too. I had a real good connection with Coach (Darnell) Archey. We talked a lot, I met Coach (Matthew) Graves and it went from there.

You were recruited by a lot of schools - what made you decide to stay in state?
I know me, and I know that if I had gone a long way from home, I would have been back and forth, wanting to go home. Here, I'm only 3 ½ hours away and I can go home if I need to. I'm playing in my state – I was born and raised here – I can bring more attention to the school because everybody knows where I am and this is where I'm from.

You lost two friends recently – Rod Scott & Herman Williams – what was your relationship like with them?
I met Rod in the 9th grade when we were playing AAU together. We went our separate ways at first, but we were reunited when we played on Southeast Elite. He was like a brother, really. He was the brother I wish I could've had at all times. In the hotel he was my roommate, in the van we sat next to each other, we laughed and played all the time. If the coaches saw me, they knew they would see him. If I was in trouble, he was in trouble.

I met Herman when I was young, around 6th or 7th grade. He played in the Gym Rats with me – the Gym Rats, we were brothers and still are. Same thing with him: we went together, then we separated – he went to Under Armour and I went with Nike and Adidas – but we always stayed connected. I helped him with his college decision and he helped me with mine a little bit. Once I was here, I got a call that said he was gone.

How did that affect you?
It affected me for a good couple of weeks. I did a lot of praying. I really don't know how to explain it, but it was bad. I lost Rod first and was still lost on that, and then when I got that call, I was like, Wow. I honestly didn't sleep for like two nights. I just stayed up praying, looking at different memories of all of us. I made it worse on myself by doing that, but it was too heavy on my mind.

You said that you want to dedicate each practice and game to them - what do you think will go through your mind when thinking of them before a game?
Before the practices over the summer before we went overseas, I would write their name on something, maybe on my arm or something like that, just to dedicate it to them. Before the games I would pray and tell them to watch over me, guide me through my steps on and off the court and just help me.

What was the European trip like for you?
It was an excellent experience. I got to go out of the country for the first time. I always knew I was the kind of guy that everybody liked to listen to when I said something, because most freshmen don't like to step up and talk, but I think the guys kind of accept me to do that. When I say we need to fix something, they listen. Of course, they correct me on my things, but they listened and I noticed that while we were over there. It made me feel good about myself as a freshman.

What was your favorite part of the European trip?
The games and traveling were fun, but us spending time together, knowing that the guys like me and the other freshmen, it lets me know that when the season comes, the way we played on the court, it's going to be even better over here. We're not a separated group of guys; if you see one of us, you see all of us.

How do you think the trip will help you and the team this season?
It's going to help us a lot. It won't be about this person or that person being selfish. Everybody knows their roles. That trip really helped us practice and play at the same time. They know what I can do and I know what they can do. There won't be any confusion. We won't need to fix anything midseason; we already know.

How was the travel experience?
I was beat. In AAU, we were riding in the car or van, and I flew once, but that plane ride was just long, and I'm big trying to sleep on the plane, getting cricks in my neck. The food overseas was different. I tried to adjust to it. Some of it was nasty, but some of it was pretty good.

How would you describe your playing style?
I'm a dog. I can catch it and makes moves and stuff, but a lot of my points and the reason I was recruited was different things that the coaches are looking for. I'm good talking on the floor, diving for the ball, going for those garbage points, and the rebounds nobody thinks they can get, I go for those.

What do you consider to be the strongest part of your game?
Talking and rebounding. I'm a big man on the floor and under the basket so I see everything. Shaq (Calhoun) may be at the top and can't see a screen coming, or I'm talking to Juice (Ken Williams) on the wing. I'm the communicator out there. If they can't hear me, the defense won't work.

What do you try to accomplish during the offseason workouts?
To make myself better at the aspects that I know I can do, and eventually add more pieces to the puzzle. Right now, I want to lead the league in rebounding and 'And-ones.' We work on that every day, they beat me to death while I'm trying to get rebounds and putting the ball back up. I like when they do that and it's making me better because I can see improvement. In high school we did a lot of stuff to get in shape, but there's nothing like college shape, and they're getting me there.

What part of your game are you working on the most leading up to next season?
I'm a good rebounder, but I need to be a great rebounder. Being able to catch, turn my back to the basket, make a drop-step and score. I can talk pretty well but I can improve on that. My 15-foot jumpshot is pretty good, but I need to get it to a point where, if I'm posting and I can't get it, I can screen, pop back out and knock it down.

What do you enjoy the most of the game of basketball?
Where I'm from, you only really have basketball or football – as a young, black kid, that's the only way you can get out, so it got me out of where I'm from, and it took me across the world. Going into my 11th-grade year, I traveled everywhere. Not only is it fun, but I'm getting to see everything and I'm getting to meet people.

Who has had the biggest influence on your basketball life?
My mom, really. She's the biggest influence on everything. When I was little, it was either her or my dad putting a ball in my hand or telling me what to do. They raised me right and taught me to be respectful and act when I'm out in public. But from a basketball standpoint, it was her and my whole family.

What do you expect of yourself this season?
Become better, of course, be a better leader than I already am, and as a freshman, step up and be able to do great things here. We talk about changing basketball here and I think we're on the right track of doing that.

What was your relationship like with Coach Archey during the recruiting process?
The whole process was hectic because so many schools were calling, but when he called, he understood what I was going through. He knew when to call. It was a pretty good friendship. Most coaches were just talking, but he was meaning what he was saying and that's what I liked about him.

What professional player do you try to model your game after?
DeAndre Jordan. I'm 6-foot-8 and he's 7-foot, so some of the stuff he does, I'm getting to it, but when he's on the court, he's just a dog. If you're in his way, you're smashed. You're like barbeque chicken.

Quick Hits
Favorite NBA team: Chicago Bulls
Favorite college team growing up: I didn't really have one, but I liked to watch Florida
Favorite sport other than basketball: College football
Favorite musical artists: Kodak Black
Favorite class: Math
Favorite movie: "National Security" or "Insidious"
Favorite video game: NBA 2K17 or Call of Duty
Favorite social media: Snapchat
Favorite TV show: I really don't watch TV, but if I had to choose one, it would be "Everybody Hates Chris"

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