Jerone Morton's Killer 3-Point Shot Is Ready For Kentucky and The Rest of College Hoops Isn't Prepared

Alright, Emerald City, listen up! We've got news buzzing out of the transfer portal, and it's about a guy who knows our Washington state hoops scene. Jerone Morton, the guard who balled out for Washington State, is making moves. Jacob Polacheck of KSR+ just confirmed it: our dude is officially scheduled to visit Kentucky this Friday! This isn't just another name in the portal, folks. This is a player whose game, especially from deep, could absolutely light up the Bluegrass State, and frankly, the rest of college basketball might not see it coming.

From Cougar Country to Kentucky Crossroads

Morton's journey has been a wild ride. This central Kentucky native actually kicked off his college career at Morehead State, putting in two years there before making the trek out west to play for our very own Cougars in the West Coast Conference for the 2025-26 season. Now, other big names like DePaul, George Mason, and Texas A&M are all trying to get in on the action for the 6-foot-4 guard. On3 might rank Morton at No. 508 overall and the 138th-best shooting guard in the transfer portal, but don't let those numbers fool you. He's got one year of eligibility left, and he's looking to make it count.

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

Let's rewind a bit. Morton was a star coming out of George Rogers Clark High in Winchester, KY. He led his squad to a Sweet 16 championship in 2022, earning tournament MVP, and then a runner-up finish in 2023 under coach Josh Cook. His senior year was legit: 19.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game on 52.4 percent shooting. Even though he was lightly recruited out of high school, landing at Morehead State, he showed flashes. As a freshman in 2023-24, he played in 34 games, started two, and even dropped a season-high 10 points in his second college game. He even saw a couple minutes in Morehead State's NCAA Tournament loss to Illinois.

But his sophomore year, 2024-25, that's when things exploded! Morton started 20 of his 26 games, rocketing his per-game numbers to 10.4 points, 3.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in nearly 30 minutes. His shooting splits jumped big time too: 45.0 percent from the field, 37.7 percent from three, and 72.0 percent from the line. He had 14 double-digit scoring games, including two 20-point outings, like when he went for 18 points, seven assists, and four rebounds in an overtime win against UT Martin. That kind of production screams "bigger opportunity," which is exactly why he became the first portal addition for new WSU head coach David Riley, picking our Cougars over Marshall, Western Kentucky, and Indiana State. At WSU in 2025-26, he started 29 of 32 games, averaging 7.8 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 rebounds. He even dropped 16 and 15 points in two matchups with Gonzaga and had a nine-point, nine-assist game against St. Mary's. The guy has been putting in work!

Advanced Stats Spill the Tea: Offense Lights Up, Defense Needs Work

When you dive into the advanced stats from his time at Washington State, a couple of things leap off the page faster than a Seattle latte art competition. Morton is a certified threat from long range and has an incredible assist/turnover ratio. He graded out in the 85th percentile among all guards for three-point shooting and in the 88th percentile for his assist/turnover ratio of 2.22, according to CBB Analytics. Even as a low usage player at just 16.6 percent, he finds ways to generate points. His shot chart shows he's well above average with mid-range jumpers and those crucial above-the-break threes. Plus, he shot over 50 percent on his threes from the right side of the floor! He knocked down 37 percent of his 61 NBA-range triples. And get this: only 45.2 percent of his threes last season were even assisted. This dude can create his own shot!

Now, let's keep it real. While his offense is sparkling, his defense is where things get a bit cloudy. He’s rated as average in terms of defensive havoc and a solid steals/blocks guy for a guard. But the overall defensive metrics weren't exactly cheering for his impact last season. His DRAPM of -3.4 ranked him in the 2nd percentile, and his Defensive Win Shares of 0.03 put him in the 20th percentile. He also made more noise on the offensive glass than the defensive side. It’s clear where the focus needs to be to round out his game.

So, what's next? This Friday's visit to Kentucky is huge for Morton. This isn't just about finding a new team, it's about finding the perfect fit to showcase that impressive offensive game and take the next step. Can he solidify his spot and prove those defensive numbers wrong? Emerald City fans, keep an eye on this WSU alum. His next move could truly define his final college season!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.