Morton Leads Lady Sharks

A squad described by head coach Susan Summons as the “walking wounded” is getting the guidance it needs from second-year shooting guard Kiana Morton.

Morton, 19, was named Second-Team All-Conference last year. She lead the team in scoring—11 points—during the Lady Sharks opening season loss to Daytona State College.

“I’m a scorer and a leader,” said Morton, who was a McDonalds All-American and Player of the Year winner coming out of high school. “I can do everything from passing [to] shooting.”

Teammates said they like what Morton brings to the team.

“On and off the court she shows leadership, and we look up to her as a role model,” said power forward Eboni Joy Brown. “I call her my sister. I go up to her with basketball and personal issues to talk about.”

With injuries to several players, Morton’s leadership has been essential.

“We opened up our season having great promise, and then we started to have injury after injury,” Summons said. “Concussions, sprained ankles, ACL tears, broken fingers, dislocated shoulders and all three point guards are out.”

Morton plans to apply her leadership and on-court skills to any team she plays for in the coming years. She is determined to play basketball at a high level throughout her career.

“In my future I see myself [at] a four-year university, hopefully a top Division I school, followed by playing pro-ball,” Morton said.

Several schools throughout the nation also see great promise in Morton.

“She is being recruited by Clayton University, [which] just finished winning the NCAA Division II National Championship,” Summons said.  “Division I schools such as the University of North Carolina, Greensboro and [Long Island University] want to recruit her as well.”

Morton remains focused on helping the Lady Sharks. Despite the squad’s early season setbacks, she has big expectations for the team.

“I see us winning conference,” Morton said. “I see us winning States, and I see us going to Nationals.”