Alex Morales
{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Alex Morales
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| position = Shooting guard
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 180
| league = NBA G League
| team = Osceola Magic
| number = 2
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|11|21}}
| birth_place = Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
| nationality = Puerto Rican
| high_school = Manchester Regional
(Haledon, New Jersey)
| college =
- Prince George's CC (2016–2019)
- Wagner (2019–2022)
| draft_year = 2022
| career_start = 2022
| career_end =
| years1 = 2022–2023
| team1 = Lakeland Magic
| years2 = 2023
| team2 = Osos de Manatí
| years3 = 2023–2024
| team3 = Osceola Magic
| years4 = 2024
| team4 = Osos de Manatí
| years5 = 2024–present
| team5 = Osceola Magic
| highlights =
- 2× NEC Player of the Year (2021, 2022)
- 2× First-team All-NEC (2021, 2022)
- Second-team NJCAA DIII All-American (2019)
- MJCAC Player of the Year (2019)
}}
Alexander Morales Jr. (born November 21, 1997) is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player for the Osceola Magic of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Prince George's CC Owls and the Wagner Seahawks.
High school career
Morales played basketball for Manchester Regional High School in Haledon, New Jersey, where he was a three-time All-State selection and led his team to a state sectional title.{{cite web |title=Alex Morales |url=https://www.pgccowls.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/bios/A_Morales |website=Prince George's Community College |access-date=May 17, 2021}} He was suspended for his senior season after allegedly being involved in an altercation at school.{{cite web |last1=Kensik |first1=Edward |title=Manchester High School basketball team moving on after suspension |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2016/03/03/manchester-high-school-basketball-team-moving-on-after-suspension/94527898/ |website=The Record |access-date=May 17, 2021 |date=March 3, 2016}}
College career
Morales averaged 13.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game as a freshman at Prince George's Community College. He was a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III Honorable Mention All-American and was named to the Second Team All-Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference. Morales led Prince George's to its first Maryland JUCO Tournament title since 1981, earning MVP honors.{{cite web |title=Prince George's Alex Morales Named Men's Basketball NJCAA Division III Honorable Mention All-American |url=https://www.pgccowls.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170414wybrgaww.pgccowls.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170725dzu5zq |website=Prince George's Community College |access-date=May 17, 2021 |date=April 14, 2017}} He did not play in the next season and was granted a redshirt. As a sophomore, Morales averaged 19.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. He was named a Second Team NJCAA Division III All-American and Maryland JUCO Player of the Year.{{cite web |title=Seahawks Add Veteran Guard Alex Morales |url=https://wagnerathletics.com/news/2019/4/19/mens-basketball-seahawks-add-veteran-guard-alex-morales.aspx |website=Wagner College Athletics |access-date=May 18, 2021 |date=April 19, 2019}}
For his junior season, Morales moved to Wagner. As a junior, he averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.{{cite web |last1=Mlodzinski |first1=Matt |title=What you don't know about Wagner Basketball Star Alex Morales |url=https://cbbreview.com/2021/04/19/interview-wagner-basketball-alex-morales/ |website=CBB Review |access-date=May 18, 2021 |date=April 19, 2021}} Morales was named NEC Player of the Year as a senior, averaging 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.{{cite web |title=NEC Men's Basketball Player of the Year Alex Morales Highlights Wagner Awards Haul |url=https://northeastconference.org/news/2021/3/4/MBB_All_NEC_21_Release_.aspx |publisher=Northeast Conference |access-date=May 18, 2021 |date=March 5, 2021}} On April 16, 2021, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.{{cite web |title=Wagner College basketball standout Alex Morales to test NBA Draft waters |url=https://www.silive.com/colleges/2021/04/wagner-college-basketball-standout-alex-morales-to-test-nba-draft-waters.html |website=Staten Island Advance |access-date=May 17, 2021 |date=April 17, 2021}} Morales ultimately returned for his additional season of eligibility. He was again named NEC Player of the Year as well as Defensive Player of the Year.{{cite press release|url=https://northeastconference.org/news/2022/2/27/MBB_All_NEC_22_Release__.aspx |title=Two-For-2: Wagner's Alex Morales Repeats As #NECMBB Player of the Year|publisher=Northeast Conference |date=March 1, 2022 |accessdate=March 1, 2022}}
Professional career
=Lakeland Magic (2022–2023)=
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Morales joined the Orlando Magic for training camp, however he did not make the final roster. On November 3, 2022, Morales was named to the opening night roster for the Lakeland Magic.{{cite web|title=Lakeland Magic Announce 2022-23 Opening Night Roster|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/lakeland-magic-announce-2022-23-opening-night-roster/n-5895510|website=OurSportsCentral.com|date=November 3, 2022|access-date=November 3, 2022}}
=Osos de Manatí (2023)=
=Osceola Magic (2023–2024)=
On September 13, 2023, Morales signed with the Orlando Magic,{{cite web|title=Orlando Magic Sign Free Agent Alex Morales|url=https://www.nba.com/magic/news/orlando-magic-sign-alex-morales-20230914|website=NBA.com|date=September 13, 2023|access-date=September 14, 2023}} but was waived two days later.{{cite web|title=Orlando Magic Waive Alex Morales|url=https://www.nba.com/magic/news/orlando-magic-waive-alex-morales-20230915|website=NBA.com|date=September 15, 2023|access-date=September 16, 2023}} On November 2, he joined the Osceola Magic.{{cite web|title=Training Camp Roster Just Dropped|url=https://osceola.gleague.nba.com/news/training-camp-roster-just-dropped|website=NBA.com|date=November 2, 2023|access-date=December 3, 2023}}
=Return to Manatí (2024)=
After the G League season concluded, Morales re-joined the Osos de Manatí.{{cite web|title=SHELDON MAC Y JORDAN WALKER SERÁN LOS REFUERZOS DE OSOS DE MANATÍ|url=https://canchalatina.com/2024/03/29/sheldon-mac-y-jordan-walker-seran-los-refuerzos-de-osos-de-manati/|website=CanchaLatina.com|date=March 29, 2024|access-date=March 29, 2024|language=Spanish}}
=Return to Osceola (2024–present)=
On October 16, 2024, Morales signed once again with the Orlando Magic,{{cite web|title=Orlando Magic Sign Free Agent Alex Morales|url=https://www.nba.com/magic/news/orlando-magic-sign-free-agent-alex-morales-20241016|website=NBA.com|date=October 16, 2024|access-date=October 19, 2024}} but was waived three days later.{{cite web|title=Orlando Magic Convert Contract of Mac McClung to Two-Way Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/magic/news/orlando-magic-convert-contract-of-mac-mcclung-to-two-way-contract-20241019|website=NBA.com|date=October 19, 2024|access-date=October 21, 2024}} Om October 27, he joined the Osceola Magic.{{cite web|title=Osceola Magic Announce Training Camp Roster|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/osceola-magic-announce-training-camp-roster/n-6160339|website=OurSportsCentral.com|date=October 27, 2024|access-date=October 27, 2024}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=College=
==NCAA Division I==
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="text-align:left;"| Wagner
| 28 || 25 || 30.6 || .440 || .366 || .706 || 5.8 || 3.1 || 1.1 || .3 || 13.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| style="text-align:left;"| Wagner
| 20 || 20 || 35.4 || .440 || .317 || .713 || 7.2 || 4.3 || 1.8 || .5 || 16.8
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 48 || 45 || 32.6 || .440 || .343 || .709 || 6.4 || 3.6 || 1.4 || .4 || 14.9
{{S-end}}
==JUCO==
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17
| style="text-align:left;"| Prince George's CC
| 26 || 23 || 25.2 || .469 || .158 || .590 || 9.9 || 3.2 || 1.4 || .6 || 13.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18
| style="text-align:left;"| Prince George's CC
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| File:Redshirt.svg Redshirt
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19
| style="text-align:left;"| Prince George's CC
| 28 || 28 || 33.6 || .584 || .426 || .659 || 11.9 || 5.5 || 3.6 || .9 || 19.8
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 54 || 51 || 29.6 || .533 || .363 || .627 || 11.0 || 4.4 || 2.5 || .8 || 16.9
{{S-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://wagnerathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/alex-morales/12473 Wagner Seahawks bio]
- [https://www.pgccowls.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/bios/A_Morales Prince George's CC Owls bio]
{{Osceola Magic current roster}}
{{Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morales, Alex}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Basketball players from Paterson, New Jersey
Category:Junior college men's basketball players in the United States
Category:Lakeland Magic players
Category:Manchester Regional High School alumni
Category:Osceola Magic players
Category:Osos de Manatí players