Flint Monarchs guard Natasha Morris inks a basketball deal overseas
Posted October 16, 2011
No player may have benefited more from playing on the women’s semi-professional squad last season than Morris, a former Flint Beecher All-City honoree in 2006.
As a rookie, Morris finished the year as the Monarchs’ second leading scorer — averaging 12.5 points — and was named the co-MVP of the WBCBL’s Northeast region.
Now she will take her talents to Cyprus after signing a one-year deal with the Olympos Ayios Nikolaou basketball team.
“I’m real excited,” said Morris, who played collegiately at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, N.J. “When I came from college I was supposed to be overseas then, but things didn’t work out.
“But I feel like the Flint Monarchs gave me a little bit more exposure than I already had. So it’s kind of like a dream come true.”
Morris will attempt to fight for a key role on a squad that competes in the top Cypriot Basketball League.
She leaves Monday and admits that she is apprehensive to live in a new country.
“It’s going to be a big culture shock, but I’m ready to experience it,” said Morris. “(There’s) a lot of differences and everything, but that comes with the opportunity.”
Morris has been preparing to make the transition by training four days a week and consulting with players who already are playing internationally.
She said she’s going back to fundamentals in her workouts and has noticed the results.
View full sizeGuard Natasha Morris of the Flint Monarchs going up for a shot during a regular season game. She was named co-MVP of the North East Region.
“This is actually a job that you can’t slack around and not be ready. You have to be ready at all times, and that’s basically what I’m trying to do when I go over there.”
Morris won’t be the first Monarch to play overseas.
Her former teammate Kaihla Szunko is playing for the ToPo team located in Helsinki.
Szunko, who’s from Saginaw, inked her deal in late August.
The Monarchs organization hopes this will become a consistent trend for their players.
“Natasha is a highly skilled guard that can play with the best at any level,” Monarchs president and general manager Dreyon Wynn said. “This is her opportunity to show the world that she is Flint’s best kept secret.
“She will not be the last Flint Monarch to play overseas. We are hopeful that other Monarchs will play over in Europe, too. We are proud of Natasha and Kaihla and wish them both success.”
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