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02/20/2019 11:00 PMThe turnaround of the Morgan boys’ basketball team is one of the biggest stories in the Shoreline Conference this season. Senior captain Chris Nuzzo has been a central figure in the Huskies’ success by providing a powerful presence both on the court and in the locker room.
Chris is a lifelong basketball player who’s competed alongside his senior teammates at Morgan for several years. After the Huskies finished with four wins last season, Chris and company have flipped the script this winter as Morgan owns a record of 13-5 and will soon be competing in the playoffs. Chris is averaging a team-best 11.1 points per game, while shooting a sizzling 45.5 percent from 3-point range on the year.
“Playing the game has taught me how to be a leader on the team, and that it’s a game where you can’t take anyone for granted. I give credit to my teammates for my success. We’ve been there for each other,” Chris says. “It wasn’t the best our previous seasons, but we knew it would be a better year this season with a new coach and system. The team chemistry was there right from the start of the season.”
In addition to his sharp shooting, Chris is doing a great job of patrolling the paint for Morgan this year. Chris averages 6.3 rebounds a game, and his efforts on the glass are proving instrumental in helping the Huskies produce points.
“I’ve been helping the team with rebounds, which has helped us get the ball and win games,” says Chris. “It’s just been a lot of offensive rebounds and boxing out to help the team bring the ball up for me.”
Chris has put in plenty of extra work during the offseason throughout his career. While those extra reps have aided his progression as a player, Chris is also stepping up in the leadership department. As a senior captain, Chris emphasizes camaraderie and accountability among the Huskies.
“I’ve gotten stronger since freshman year, but it’s about making everyone on the team feel comfortable, and letting them know that I can help anyone out,” Chris says. “My co-captains, Andrew Fritz and Garrett Johnson, we talk after practices and see what people need to focus on. We have to set the tone and be role models.”
First-year Head Coach Frank Rossi says that Chris has continually raised his game as the campaign has unfolded. Rossi notes that Chris is reading opposing defenses more effectively, allowing him to make smarter decisions and take better shots.
“As the season has gone on, Chris has done a great job adjusting his game, particularly on offense, where he is forcing fewer shots and really taking what the defense gives him,” says Rossi. “It was after about six games when Chris really developed a level of consistency, and things started to become clearer. Chris is an incredibly tough competitor and has played a major role in our wins so far.”
Chris and his teammates knew that the Huskies had what it took to revitalize the program this year. With the postseason approaching, Morgan is on a mission to show the rest of the state what they’ve believed all along.
“Coming out of the gate this year, we had some losing records the past few years, but we knew it would be different this year,” says Chris, who thanks his family, along with his teammates and coaches. “We knew we could prove Morgan basketball is back. We knew it was time for a change, and we made it happen.”