Monte Morris ready for pro career to begin

Monte Morris drives towards the basket during a game against the Nevada Wolf Pack, March 16, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Cyclones won 84-73.

Connor Ferguson

Monte Morris strolled into Sunday Night’s YMCA Capital City League action wearing a black NBA Combine sweatshirt.

Fans came to him for autographs, and he got to see some former teammates.

Morris is the most hyped NBA prospect that Cyclone fans have seen since Royce White was picked 16th overall by Houston in 2012.

But Morris is ready for the pre-draft hype to be over.

“I’m just anxious and ready to get it over with,” Morris said.

Morris said things are still up in the air regarding where he will be taken, and who will be picking him in the draft.

The Flint, Michigan native plans on finding out during a draft party in his hometown.

“I’m having a little get together where a lot of people will come watch it,” Morris said. “I’m just going to see it and celebrate then.”

Morris has showcased his skills for a handful of NBA teams in pre-draft workouts, including Indiana, San Antonio, Orlando, Brooklyn, Sacramento and the Los Angeles Lakers.

“It’s hard for me to really just play bad in the workout,” Morris said. “I’m not labeled as a shooter. I’m not labeled as a driver. It’s not like if I’m a shooter and I’m missing, I’m off.”

However, during his workouts, Morris sustained a strained quad that sidelined him for a week, preventing him to work out for former coach Fred Hoiberg and the Bulls.

Morris said he is 100 percent healthy and ready to go now, and will participate in the NBA Summer League as planned.

Morris is now done working out for teams and reflected on his session with the Lakers.

“The Lakers workout was my best one,” Morris said. “I was hurt, honestly, that whole workout.”

Morris said he got to meet Magic Johnson and take a picture with him during his time in L.A.

“Magic’s a cool guy,” Morris said. “He knows about Flint, and things like that. I touched base with him and Luke Walton. It was cool.”

Getting drafted by the Lakers could perhaps put Morris on the same team as Lonzo Ball, whose dad has become a public figure of sorts due to his outrageous claims on TV.

“I think [Lonzo Ball is] real good,” Morris said. “If I ever played with him I feel like it’d be good, because we’re kind of the same player as far as passing.”

Morris will find out his destination during the NBA Draft this Thursday. The draft will be televised by NBATV and kicks off at 6 p.m.