Wazzu's Jerone Morton's Unreal Shooting Numbers: Why The West Coast Is Losing A Gem

Alright, Emerald City, listen up. We've got some news hitting the wires that, honestly, stings a little bit. Jerone Morton, that guard who's been lighting it up for our very own Washington State Cougars, is officially in the transfer portal. And yeah, he's already scheduled to visit Kentucky this Friday, according to Jacob Polacheck of KSR+. It's a tough pill to swallow when you see a talent like that head elsewhere, especially when he really started to hit his stride out here in the West Coast Conference. He's got one year of eligibility left, and a bunch of schools like DePaul, George Mason, and Texas A&M are all trying to get his attention.

From Kentucky Kid to Wazzu Star

Morton's journey has been a wild one. He kicked off his college hoops career at Morehead State for two seasons, coming straight out of Winchester, Kentucky. The kid was a high school legend, leading George Rogers Clark to a Sweet 16 championship in 2022, even snagging tournament MVP, and then a runner-up finish in 2023. As a senior, he was dropping 19.8 points and pulling down 6.6 rebounds per game on an impressive 52.4 percent shooting. But coming out of high school, he was lightly recruited, landing at Morehead State. His freshman year in 2023-24 was quiet, averaging 2.2 points and 1.3 boards in 12.9 minutes over 34 games, starting two. But his sophomore year? THAT'S when he blew up. He started 20 of 26 games, bumping his averages to 10.4 points, 3.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 29.5 minutes. His shooting splits jumped big time too, hitting 45.0% from the field, 37.7% from three, and 72.0% from the line. That kind of production screams "opportunity," and it brought him right here to Pullman for the 2025-26 season under new head coach David Riley.

The Num

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.

bers That Made Us Notice Here at Washington State, Morton became a crucial piece of the puzzle. He started 29 of his 32 games played, averaging 7.8 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per outing. His shooting splits continued to impress, going 43.8/38.8/82.0. We saw him drop 16 points and 15 points in two matchups against Gonzaga, and he even had a nine-point, nine-assist game against St. Mary's. But get this: the advanced stats on Morton are straight-up bonkers. He graded out in the 85th percentile among all guards for his three-point shooting and in the 88th percentile for his assist/turnover ratio of 2.22! The guy is a deep shooting threat, hitting over 50 percent on his threes from the right side of the floor and a solid 37 percent from NBA range on 61 total triples. He's low usage, sure, just 16.6 percent, but when he had the ball, he found ways to make it count. His mid-range and above-the-break threes? Well above average. That's a serious weapon.

What's Next for This West Coast Talent?

Now, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. His overall defensive metrics weren't exactly elite, with a DRAPM of -3.4 and Defensive Win Shares of 0.03. He was average on defensive havoc, good for steals/blocks for a guard, but the impact on that end wasn't quite there. Still, with one year of eligibility left, his offensive game, especially that smooth stroke and killer assist/turnover ratio, makes him a hot commodity. It's a bummer to see a player like Morton, who showed so much growth and contributed to our state's team, head out the door. We saw the flashes of brilliance, the clutch shooting, the undeniable talent. Wherever he lands next, they're getting a guard who can absolutely light it up from deep and make smart plays. Keep an eye on this kid, Seattle; he's got game, and the West Coast will certainly feel his absence.

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