Rockets Assign Morris to the Vipers

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned forward Marcus Morris to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partnerRio GrandeValley. It marks the first assignment for Morris to the D-League.

“The Rockets assignment of Marcus Morris to the Vipers is another example of our belief in player development through the D-League,” said Rockets Vice President of Player Personnel/Vipers General Manager Gersson Rosas. “We have found success in developing young players like Aaron Brooks and Patrick Patterson in our minor-league program and believe that Marcus will be the latest to benefit from this process. The opportunity for Marcus to continue his development in a primary role in games and practices for the Vipers is invaluable and necessary at this stage of his career.”

Morris (6-9, 235, Kansas), who was selected by Houston with the 14^th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, has appeared in three games this season with the Rockets. An early entry candidate for the 2011 NBA Draft, Morris finished his Kansas career 25^th on the all-time KU scoring list with 1,371 points scored, 16^th all-time in rebounds with 676, ninth in double-doubles for a Jayhawk with 19 and 12^th on the single-season scoring list with 654 points during the 2010-11 season. Chosen right after his twin brother, Markieff (13^th overall by Phoenix), Morris was selected the Big 12 Player of the Year and the Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Player following a standout junior season. He added First-Team All-Big 12 accolades, as well as USBWA, NABC and AP All-America Second Team in 2010-11. An Oscar Robertson Trophy finalist, Morris was one of 20 college players chosen by USA Basketball to train against the USA Men’s National Team during the 2010 offseason.