From backyard ball to breaking records: Chase Morgan’s rise to the top

Behind every star athlete is a story that starts long before the spotlight. For Chase Morgan (‘26), that story didn’t begin in a crowded gym or under bright lights.

“It actually started in the backyard,” his father, Travis Morgan, said. “It was just dirt and grass. He played football and baseball, but he wasn’t really into it. We tried basketball and he never looked back.”

This simple, humble beginning set the foundation for what would become one of the most accomplished careers in Maryville College Men’s Basketball history. Morgan has been named the first player in program history to surpass 1,300 career points, 500 rebounds, and 100 blocks, a rare triple milestone that places him among the best to ever wear a Scots jersey. 

“To be the first to do something in a program with multiple all-American alumni is a huge blessing,” Morgan said. 

Morgan’s approach to basketball has been intentional from an early age. According to his father, talent was only part of the equation.

“He has always been a team player, but he has always had the ability to get to the basket,” Travis Morgan said. “I told him, ‘You learn the game, then you can play it.’ He took that seriously. I showed him a few things, but he is really self-taught from that point on.

When Morgan first arrived at Maryville College for the 2022-23 season, his role was far different from what it is today.

“When I first started, I was coming off the bench on a team with a lot of older guys, so I was just focused on not messing up,” Morgan said. “Now, I’ve found myself in a lead role on a successful team, and I’ve been given the responsibilities of producing in every area of the game.”

Morgan was already a very skilled player when he arrived at Maryville College. But coaches say his biggest improvements came through dedication and confidence.

“His confidence, for one, has grown a lot from his first year,” Assistant Coach Myles Rasnick (‘23) said. “As well as the dedication that he had to making improvements with his body and putting on muscle. It shows the dedication, commitment and work ethic that Chase has. From seeing those results, the confidence is displayed on the floor as well.”

Head coach Raul Placeres (‘06) has seen that growth firsthand every season.

“Chase has evolved tremendously as a player, improving each year since debuting in the 2022-23 season,” Placeres said. “He arrived as a promising forward with solid athleticism and inside presence and has become one of the best post players in the country.”

Morgan, now a senior, is putting together the strongest season of his career, averaging 21.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. His career history includes multiple 30-point games, like 32-point, five-block game against LaGrange and 33 points versus Belhaven. 

With over 78 career games with 54 starts, Morgan has developed into a “dominant two-way force,” as Placeres describes, capable of scoring, protecting the rim, rebounding and facilitating offense. That growth has placed Morgan on national watchlists such as the Bevo Francis Top 100. This is awarded to the top small-college players in the country, and it positioned him as a strong All-American candidate. 

However, Morgan’s historic milestones are about more than statistics. 

“He has unlimited potential,” Rasnick said. “Something that Coach [Placeres] preaches a lot is: ‘if you are a good person and work hard, then good things will happen to you in your life.’ In all aspects of his life, Chase has worked really hard. He is reaping the rewards of that.”

Coaches consistently return to Morgan’s character, work ethic and consistency as driving forces behind his success. 

“You obviously have to be a very talented player to reach those milestones,” Rasnick added, “but it goes back to how good of a person he is and how hard he has worked throughout his career.”

Morgan acknowledges that consistency didn’t come without setbacks.

“As a young player, bad games could easily snowball into bad stretches,” he said. “But when you reach the upperclassman years you learn that it’s all part of the ebb and flow of a season.”

Chase’s impact didn’t come as a surprise to the coaching staff. For Placeres and Jeff McCord (‘04), now a volunteer assistant coach and former assistant, the relationship goes back years.

“When we first recruited and started coaching Chase, his raw physical tools as a six-foot-six, 255-pound forward jumped out immediately,” Placeres said. “But what truly impressed us was his motor and basketball instincts.”

McCord similarly reiterated that sentiment, commenting on how long the staff has known Morgan. 

“Coach Placeres and I have known Chase since he was elementary to middle school aged,” McCord said. “He’d been coming to camps for a long time. We coached him in AAU. We knew that Chase was a very, very special talent.”

Beyond the court, Morgan’s personality made him a favorite within the program.

“He’s always been a good kid, good basketball player, hard-worker, and very smart,” McCord said.

The intelligence Morgan possesses even became a lighthearted tradition within the team.

“His first year or two, we would do ‘Fact of the Day with Chase Morgan,’” McCord said. “He knows all of these random facts about anything and everything. We’d create graphics and post them to Twitter; people loved them.”

Morgan’s leadership style differs from typical, vocal leaders.

“Chase is more of a quiet leader,” Rasnick said. “He leads a lot by example. When players look up to Chase, they see a guy that works really, really hard to be the best version of himself, whether it’s basketball, school or other things.”

“I’ll miss his daily presence as a leader who set the tone for our program,” Placeres said. “What made him special was his consistency in elevating everyone around him while never taking shortcuts.”

Morgan’s ability to balance basketball with academic success is one of the most impressive aspects of his career. A criminal justice and psychology double major, Morgan has maintained a 3.6+ GPA while playing and serving as a critical player on the team.

Those closest to Morgan describe him in many ways that go beyond basketball. 

“I would describe Chase as a gentle giant,” Rasnick said. “He’s a down-to-earth guy that works extremely hard and is extremely dedicated to his faith.”

McCord called him “one of the most well-rounded student-athletes we’ve had in the program.”

“He’s grounded in his faith,” Travis Morgan said. “If Chase didn’t play ball, he would still be an outstanding human being.”

Athletic Director Andrew Wu sees Morgan’s accomplishments as historically significant.

“Any time we have an athlete accomplish a ‘first,’ it’s a special achievement,” Wu said. “For Chase to be the first with these stats shows he’s been an impact player all four years and one of our best ever.”

Wu also emphasized how Morgan affects the program’s reputation, and what message his career sends to future recruits.

“Chase is a problem for teams because he does everything well,” he said. “He’s extremely smart and crafty. Coaches really struggle to gameplan against a guy like Chase. Prospective student-athletes want to be where Chase is right now.” 

As the season comes to an end, Morgan has an idea of what comes next.

“I’ll likely test the waters of overseas basketball,” he said. “But if nothing entices me, I have job offers to fall back on.”

Some moments will stay with Morgan forever. 

“My sophomore year I busted my head open in a tournament game against Lagrange. I ended up playing the rest of the game with bandage tape wrapped around my whole forehead,” Morgan said. “That was also the game that set us up to win our second conference championship in my time here.”

Chase Morgan’s story is one that exhibits steady growth, quiet leadership, and relentless work. His legacy at Maryville College is not just defined by points, rebounds, and blocks but by the standard he leaves behind for what it means to be a Scot.

“The joy of watching him grow from a promising recruit into one of the best players in Maryville College history is what I’ll cherish and miss most,” Placeres said. “He’s left an indelible mark on the program.”

Chase Morgan attempts to pass the ball to a teammate during the Jan. 30th game against LaGrange. Photo Courtesy of Emma Robertson