Friday, January 09, 2004

Recruiting Update - Anthony Morrow

Morrow's team won 76-56 over Hickory and are now 13-2. Morrow scored 17 points.

Also, here is a nice article on Morrow's Charlotte Latin team and how polite they are.

Posted on Fri, Jan. 09, 2004

`Yes sir,' Latin's got polite players
Showing respect a long tradition for Hawks
CLIFF MEHRTENS
Staff Writer

No technical fouls in seven years.

Charlotte Latin boys' basketball players don't cross referees under coach Jerry Faulkner's strict policies and the weight of tradition.

The Hawks, who host Arden Christ School at 7:30 tonight, are hardly robotic, but when the whistle blows, there's no argument.

Not even a menacing glance.

"We talk about it as a source of pride, and how we want to handle authority figures," Faulkner said. "We want our players to play with great enthusiasm and emotion, but within the context of representing the school well, the team and their parents."

Faulkner said he can't remember the last Hawk to pick up a technical foul, or what violation prompted it.

Players hand the ball to referees. They never speak back after a call. It's "yes sir" and "no sir" at other times.

Players aren't allowed to show exasperation.

"In close games, it's really hard sometimes," senior Anthony Morrow said.

Faulkner said about 15 years ago, a Hawk bounced the ball to the referee. It arrived just as the ref turned to signal the scorer's table, and hit him. Technical foul. New rule: Hand the ball to the ref.

He laughs, recalling when the Hawks ran an inbound play incorrectly, and a player said " `He doesn't know what he's calling,' " referring to his teammate. The ref overheard and misinterpreted. Technical foul.

"It just shows you how easily they can happen," Faulkner said.

The players don't want the ignominy of ending the streak.

"It'd be bad for the team, we'd probably do a little running," senior Fletcher Gregory said. "I think one of the reasons we haven't gotten any is because we're so close. We don't want to let each other down."

Faulkner is the players' muscle.

"If there's anything to be said to an official, I'll say it," he said. "They've got to understand I'll protect them."

His last technical foul came two years ago. Justified?

"I don't think so," he said, smiling.

Bill Freeman, booking agent for the Metrolina Athletic Officials Association, said in 20 years he can't remember any Latin players getting a technical.

"Jerry runs a tight ship, and they're a class act," Freeman said. "It's good (that behaving) can be done. He's gotten that across to the kids."

It's part of Faulkner's larger life lesson, with basketball as backdrop. A favorite:

"There might be a time when a highway patrolman pulls you over," he said. "You can bark at him and say `I wasn't going 75 (mph),' and see where that gets you. Or you can say, `Yes sir, here's my license, sir,' and see where that gets you."