Morton Living the Dream

Over the next few weeks, WVUsports.com will highlight members of the 2015-16 West Virginia University women’s basketball team. The 14th installment of this feature includes senior guard Jessica Morton.

Playing collegiate basketball has been a dream for West Virginia University women’s basketball senior forward Jessica Morton since she was seven years old.

The 5-10 senior point guard conquered many hardships throughout her young life. While in high school in Augusta, Georgia, Morton struggled with grades, potentially diminishing her chances to get an education and play the sport that she cherishes, basketball. But something came over her where she started to realize her main priorities in life.

“Before I went to junior college at Gulf Coast State, I enrolled in the Job Corps. It’s a place where you go to essentially get your high school diploma,” said Morton. “I didn’t have the grades to come straight to Division I, so I wanted to improve my grades, which is why I decided to go to Gulf Coast State.”

Morton spent her first two years of her career playing basketball at Gulf Coast State. She started in 28 games and led the team with 16.4 points per game. Once her junior college career was nearing an end, Morton wanted to find a program that fit her perfectly and she found WVU.

“I chose WVU because of the academic program. That was my first thing,” said Morton. “I looked at all the academic programs and the people that graduated on time, and I wanted that. Also, for basketball too. It’s the Big 12. I never thought I would be here, but when I came on a visit, I really liked the atmosphere, the coaches and the players. I felt like it was home.”

The Augusta, Georgia, native is the youngest of her five siblings, and she is the only one in her immediate family to attend college to pursue an education and to play college basketball. Her goal is to make her family proud.

“It means a lot. When I was growing up, I never thought this would happen,” said Morton. “Now, I feel that it’s important, and I just want to tell the others how important it is to me. This is what I want, and this is what my grandparents wanted. When I was growing up I stayed with my grandparents. That’s all I knew, and they wanted the best for me. I’m doing it for myself and I’m also doing it for them.”

Morton’s biggest influence and role model is her cousin Reggie Middleton. Her older cousin played college basketball at Winthrop before continuing his basketball career overseas.

“I looked up to him because we’re the only two who went to college and played ball,” said Morton.

Morton can remember the first time she stepped on the court at West Virginia.

"I was so nervous. I was scared,” said Morton. “There were a lot of people, and I’ve never played in front of a crowd like that. It was a good thing though, but I was nervous. I felt like it was home, and I just got used to it. When I start playing, and when I get the rhythm of playing, then I’m not nervous. It’s when you first walk on the court and you see all of the people, you’re just like wow.”

After getting used to the Big 12 competition, Morton finished her junior season with 129 points and 45 rebounds. Her 42.0 three-point percentage ranked fourth in a single-season by a Mountaineer junior. This season, as Morton steps into her new role as point guard for the Mountaineers. She has plenty of goals – win a championship and graduate with a degree.

“My goal is to go to the NCAA Tournament. I just want to play ball and help my teammates,” expressed Morton.

Morton has big plans for when she graduates in May with a degree in criminology, and she can’t wait to start her bright future that awaits ahead.

“Well, after I graduate I do want to continue playing ball overseas, but if that doesn’t go well, I also have a backup plan as a probation officer,” said Morton.

And for Morton, that’s a dream come true.

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