The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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62 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2017 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? "Not being home for Thanksgiving, not being home for Christmas, know- ing your families are to- gether, missing an impor- tant event with one of your siblings or your fiancée … you get tired of missing everything. It's hard to ad- just." Being home the past few months has helped con- siderably. He's now deter- mined to make that run at the NBA, a dream elud- ing him since he went un- drafted in 2014. Morgan expresses deep appreciation for his Michi- gan career, one including Big Ten titles in 2012 and 2014, a run to the NCAA Tournament title game in 2013, and the Elite Eight surge in his final season. He now enjoys a deeper apprecia- tion for how good Michigan was dur- ing his time there. "Coach Beilein is just an amaz- ing person, and he's a great coach," Morgan said. "I learned a lot as a basketball player and how to handle yourself as a man when I was there. "My assistant coaches, all three of them, have become friends. I'm happy for that. I'm humbled and honored to be part of what we were able to accom- plish what we did when I was there." He almost wasn't around to experi- ence the ending. Morgan didn't see a minute of action in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament at The Pal- ace of Auburn Hills in 2013, after start- ing games throughout his career. Mitch McGary began rising as a force in that tournament, after Mor- gan missed considerable time in Big Ten play with an ankle injury. But Morgan was ready to go in the tour- nament, then didn't early on, with- out explanation. "I just felt insulted, disappointed," he admitted. "I felt I had been a huge part in getting us to that point. There was no conversation about me not playing. "I felt I at least deserved that. I've kind of moved past that. I don't hold onto that. But that's where I was at that point as a 20-year-old kid. I was really frustrated and angry. "I was ready to leave." He believes help from on high in- tervened. Selected to the honor society Or- der of Angell at Michigan, Morgan met people and became familiar with programs that awed him, and gave him a deep appreciation for what the university and those in it can achieve. "It made me proud to be at Michi- gan," he said. "Ultimately, I decided I was going to have faith in God, and that I was called to stay. I was sup- posed to be there." Those who stayed, including Mor- gan, became Big Ten champions in 2014. They also surged to a play away from a second straight Final Four, led by a savvy defender and captain who held firm, and even got a shout out from the President of the United States. President Barack Obama delivered it in a speech he gave at Michigan, also acknowledging accomplished stu- dent-athletes such as Stauskas, Rob- inson and quarterback Devin Gardner. "That was a humbling thing," Morgan said. "I re- member not wanting to go to the speech. I was like, 'Ah, I don't want to go.' My fiancée made me go. She'll never let me forget that." He hasn't forgotten his roots, either. The gradu- ate of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy set up the Jordan Morgan Foundation in 2015, help- ing Detroit area youth. It includes a Home Court Initiative Basketball Well- ness camp, where youth are taught entrepreneur- ship, sports safety, nutri- tion and other life skills, in addition to basketball. It also features a LAUNCH STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) program, teaching those dis- ciplines through hands-on learning and field trips. Last summer, a group studying mobile programming ven- tured to Google Headquarters in Ann Arbor. "That has really taken off," Morgan said. "This year, we have partner- ships with the Detroit Public Library, Detroit Recreation Department and the Detroit Public Schools to extend the program throughout the City of Detroit. We're excited for that." Those interested in giving to the foundation or seeking more informa- tion can go to jordanmorganfounda- tion.com. Morgan himself is reaching for more, in many ways. His own de- termination, with Michigan's help, proved a powerful combination. ❏ Morgan — who has played professionally in Italy, France and Greece — established a charitable foundation that helps youth in his hometown of Detroit. PHOTO COURTESY JORDAN MORGAN The Jordan Morgan File Michigan Accomplishments: Played on Big Ten title teams in 2012 and 2014, on the 2013 squad that reached the national championship game and on an Elite Eight crew in 2014 … Earned All-Big Ten Defensive honors as a junior. Professional Accomplishments: Played for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2014 NBA Summer League, prior to professional basketball stops in Italy, France and Greece … Has also performed in shorts stints with the NBA Devel- opmental League. Education: B.S.E. in industrial and operations engineering from Michigan in 2012 … M.S. in manufacturing engineering from Michigan in 2014. Michigan Memory: "It's definitely Senior Night at Crisler. It was the last regular- season game of my career, the last home game of my career, a win against Indi- ana in front of all of our fans, and being the only senior on that team. It was a cul- mination of all of my time, all the adversity, all the hard work, the good times and bad times my entire career, and a validation of my decision to stay at Michigan. "I had a double-double that day. It was the perfect day." Family: Fiancee K.T. Maviglia, engaged to be married in June 2018.