Kent State of Mind: Morgan Safford - A Love Letter to Basketball
12/19/2024 8:25:00 AM | Men's Basketball
My basketball story began on the east side of Columbus, Ohio. My parents put me on a little YMCA basketball team, and I was so nervous that I wouldn’t even go on the court without my mom.
I fell in love with playing sports pretty much immediately after that, and then, in seventh grade, I was faced with a pivotal decision: which sport to focus on.
At the time, I was a shortstop in baseball, but things began to shift. They moved me to the outfield, and I found myself bored, standing under the sun for endless stretches.
Basketball, on the other hand, was alive — fast-paced, competitive, and thrilling.
It lit something inside me that baseball no longer could.
So, I made my choice.
Basketball.
I had no idea how deeply that decision would shape my life. I only knew I loved the game.
The Long Road to College Basketball
I wasn’t a standout high school player.
In fact, I was far from it.
Things started looking up when I joined the AAU circuit, but my momentum stalled after skipping my U17 year.
By the time my senior year rolled around, I didn’t have a single scholarship offer to my name.
It felt like the dream was slipping away.
My guidance counselor thought so, too.
She advised me to start applying to colleges as a regular student—essentially, to give up on playing basketball.
But that wasn’t an option for me.
I told her I’d started applying, but the truth was I hadn’t filled out a single application.
It was basketball or nothing.
I kept grinding, pouring everything into my senior season.
Then, everything changed. A run of games — 37, 43, and 35 points — put me on the radar of local schools like Youngstown State and Ohio University.
Wofford College stood out among them.
I believed in what Coach McAuley was building there, and Wofford’s academic reputation appealed to me. Plus, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone, to leave Ohio and experience something new.
So, I chose Wofford, and it became the next chapter of my journey.
Lessons in Setbacks
My time at Wofford taught me how to be an elite college basketball player.
I learned from incredible teammates and competed in high-stakes games.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
I tore my labrum during my time there, and it was one of the hardest periods of my life.
A teammate, Storm Murphy, gave me advice that would become my mantra: Work while you wait.
He told me that even when I couldn’t play, I could still work on my craft and be ready for my moment.
So, I worked.
That same determination carried me through my transfer to Miami University.
Every day, I practiced, trained, and stayed ready.
I repeated that process again at Kent State, sitting out due to the timing of my transfer.
It wasn’t easy.
Waiting never is.
But I don’t know how to do anything else but work.
Basketball is my love, my craft, and my life.
Growth Through Adversity
Each stop on my basketball journey — Wofford, Miami, and now Kent State — has taught me something different.
At Wofford, I learned to carry myself like a professional; I was watching and learning from teammates who went on to play at the highest levels. At Miami, I developed leadership skills, learning how to find positivity in tough situations.
Those lessons prepared me for Kent State.
Here, I’m chasing something bigger than myself: championships, banners, and a chance to leave a lasting legacy.
I’ve never been to the NCAA Tournament, and that hunger fuels me.
Kent State’s championship pedigree is what drew me here, and I want to be part of that history.
The Best Teacher for Life
Basketball has been my greatest joy and my toughest challenge.
It’s more than a game — it’s a microcosm of life.
It throws curveballs when you least expect them, and you have to keep pushing forward.
I’ve faced injuries, transfers, and setbacks.
But I’ve also had the highs: big wins, unforgettable moments, and lifelong friendships.
I’m just a kid from Columbus, Ohio, who fell in love with a ball and a hoop. Basketball has taken me places I never imagined and given me experiences I wouldn’t trade for anything.
And I’m not done.
My dream is to play basketball for as long as I can.
I’ll keep working, grinding, and chasing that dream until I can’t anymore.
Basketball is my love, my passion, and my life’s greatest teacher.
I’ve chosen it time and time again, and I’ll keep choosing it — because I can’t imagine my life any other way.
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