Junction Deli Metro Jackson Girls Player of the Week 12-27-23

By Robert Wilson

Canton High’s 6-foot-3 sophomore center Shamira Morton has already been offered by two Power 5 women’s basketball programs – Auburn from the SEC and Memphis from the American Athletic Conference. Many more might be coming after what Morton did last week.

Morton had 16 points, 16 rebounds and 7 blocked shots in a 62-58 victory over MHSAA Class 7A Northwest Rankin and 18 points, 18 rebounds and 8 blocked shots while playing only half the game in a 49-36 victory over MHSAA Class 5A Provine last week.

For her outstanding performance, Morton has been named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Girls Basketball Player of the Week.

Morton, a transfer from Clinton Christian Academy, is averaging 18.8 points (eighth best in Mississippi according to MaxPreps), 12.8 rebounds (third best in Mississippi) and 6.3 blocked shots (fifth best in the country) and has led MHSAA Class 5A Canton to a 11-1 record this season. She has career highs of 30 points against 2023 MHSAA Class 6A state champion Germantown, 23 rebounds against Ridgeland and 10 blocked shots against Yazoo County twice and Murrah.

“Shamira has become the primary focus of opponents both offensively and defensively,” Canton coach Melissa Word said. “She has been double and triple teamed on offense and many teams have refused to take the ball in the paint because of her ability to block so many shots. Although Shamira only played two quarters against Provine, she was two blocks short of a triple double. Some of the things she’s able to do really amaze me at times. Against Northwest Rankin, she was matched up with players who were similar in size, and she held her own.”

In addition to Auburn and Memphis, Morton has Division I offers from Jackson State, Louisiana-Monroe, Murray State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

“Shamira is definitely the most versatile post I’ve seen in my 26-year coaching career (all at Canton) because she can put it on the floor and step outside and shoot the 3,” Word said.

Morton averaged 10.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots and helped Clinton Christian to a 19-15 record and a third-place finish in the MAIS Class 4A state tournament and reached the MAIS Overall Tournament semifinals and made fourth team All-Metro Jackson last season as a freshman.

Morton started as an eighth grader at Canton before transferring to Clinton Christian.

“Shamira knows the game,” Word said. “She is a good kid and has great footwork for a big man. Shamira is tough on herself and is a great competitor. She runs the floor like a gazelle. She is getting a lot of interest for Division I schools, we’ve had several SEC coaches and other Division I coaches from around the country wanting to come here and watch practice this season. Shamira is an outstanding shot blocker. She had games of 12 and 10 blocked shots as an eighth grader.”

Morton is the daughter of Shameka and Dewayne Morton. Shameka played basketball at Gulfport High and Jefferson Davis Junior College, now Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Dewayne played basketball at Canton High and Holmes CC.

Shamira has three older brothers, Gregory Moore, Donovan Morton and Malachi Morton, and a younger sister, Daliyah Morton. Gregory graduated from Canton High and Mississippi Gulf Coast CC and will graduate next spring from Tennessee State. Donovan graduated from Germantown High and will graduate next spring from Jackson State. Malachi played basketball at Velma Jackson High and Yazoo County High. Daliyah is in the third grade at the Canton Arts and Science.

Canton plays host to Ridgeland Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the first round of the Madison County Invitational Tournament at Canton.

Mississippi Scoreboard selects a girls basketball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by text or call to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.