KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
LA FERIA — After family and friends filed into the La Feria High School library to witness basketball star Jalen Morrell’s signing day, La Feria principal Isaac Rodriguez opened the ceremony with a speech.
Rodriguez told the story of a freshman player who entered a game and knocked down three pointer after three pointer. At this point, Rodriguez said he suddenly realized that the upperclassmen on the team were chanting “freshman,” as a sign of respect, which is something that rarely happens. That freshman was Morrell.
On Thursday afternoon, Morrell became the first La Feria basketball player in program history to sign a letter of intent to play at the college level. He will be attending Schreiner University in Kerrville where he plans to major in biology.
“All my hard work and long hours in the gym has paid off,” said Morrell. “I just recently found out that I’m the first basketball player (from La Feria) to sign. It’s a blessing to be the first one. I hope I set an example for the younger guys that anything is possible.
“This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I’ve always wanted to play basketball. At first I thought it would be tough to get a scholarship, but I got so much support that I realized it was possible.”
Earlier this year, Morrell was named The Valley Morning Star’s ALL-STAR Offensive Player of the Year after he averaged 14 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals per game on his way to helping the Lions win a second consecutive District 32-4A title.
The 6-foot-1 small forward may have to make a transition to either point guard or shooting guard once he joins the Mountaineers this fall, but it’s a move Morrell said he would be ready for.
“I’m ready to do what the coaches ask of me,” he said. “I first got in contact with Schreiner a month and a half ago. They had received letters and e-mails on me, and we were able to set up a visit. When I went for a visit, I fell in love with the campus and I knew it was the place I wanted to be.”
La Feria head basketball coach Dario Sanchez said Morrell’s presence will be missed next season.
“We’re definitely going to miss him,” Sanchez said. “Over the past four years, especially this year, he served as a leader and continued to make plays for us when we needed him to. Day in and day out he worked hard, and we’re proud of him.”