By Robert Wilson
Canton’s Shamira Morton was named the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Girls Basketball Player of the Year last season as a sophomore after averaging 20.1 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.8 blocked shots per game.
The 6-foot-3 junior center is on her way to winning the award again.
Morton had her 14th and 15th double double (points and rebounds) and her fourth triple double (points, rebounds, and blocked shots) in two MHSAA Class 5, District 2 victories last week.
For her outstanding performances, Morton has been named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Girls Basketball Player of the Week.
Morton had 24 points, 19 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots in a 50-42 victory over Yazoo City and 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots in a 56-22 victory over Cleveland Central.
She is averaging 24.3 points (third best in Mississippi according to MaxPreps), 14.5 rebounds (second best in Mississippi), and 5.4 blocked shots (second best in Mississippi and 23rd in the country) this season for 17-5 Canton.
“Shamira’s performance this past week allowed her teammates to step up and contribute more in all areas of the game,” said Canton coach Melissa Word, who won a state title in 2013 and had a state runner-up finish last year in her 27 seasons at Canton. “Because of the way teams are playing her (double and triple teamed), Shamira is becoming a second point guard on the floor with her passing ability. She doesn’t take bad shots and our overall assists have increased because of that.”
Morton has had season highs of 40 points (also a career high) against Velma Jackson, 21 rebounds against Germantown and 10 blocked shots against Leake Central, Provine, Greenville and Cleveland Central. She has career highs 23 rebounds against Ridgeland and 12 blocked shots against Cleveland Central and Greenville last season.
Morton had five triple doubles (points, rebounds, and blocked shots) and 22 double doubles (points and rebounds) last season. Her scoring average was sixth best in Mississippi according to MaxPreps, her rebound average was second best in Mississippi and her blocked shots average was first in Mississippi and 25th best in the country. And all that while playing an average of three quarters per game.
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 quarterfinals and made fourth team All-Metro Jackson two years ago season as a freshman.
She started as an eighth grader at Canton before transferring to Clinton Christian.
Morton has Division I offers from Southern Miss, Memphis, SMU, Charlotte, South Alabama, Belmont, Murray State, Arkansas State, Stony Brook, and North Carolina A&T.
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 fourth grade at the Canton Arts and Science.
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.
WEEK ONE: Shamira Morton, Canton
WEEK TWO: Alya Benson, Germantown
WEEK THREE: Karley Robinson, Madison Central
WEEK FOUR: Anna Morgan Anderson, MRA
WEEK FIVE: Jayden Rhymes, Jackson Academy
