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Bridgewater, NJ — The post-Wagner playing career of former NEC men’s hooper Alex Morales has taken the two-time NEC Player of the Year to the highest level.
After a four-year stint with the Osceola Magic of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) G-League, Morales has joined the Orlando Magic on a two-way contract, opening the door to the NBA stage.
The last Wagner player to be affiliated with an NBA team was Terrance Bailey, who was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1987. In addition, Morales has his sights on becoming the first NEC player to land NBA playing experience since Central Connecticut’s Corsley Edwards played for the New Orleans Hornets in 2004-05.
This season, Morales, a 6-6 guard, has started and played in 18 regular season games with Osceola. In 35.6 minutes per game, he is averaging 19.2 points on 52.8 percent shooting from the field (130-of-246), 41.3 percent shooting from long range (31-of-75) and an 83.3 percent clip from the free throw line (30-of-36). In addition, Morales adds 8.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals per contest for the Magic.
Undrafted by an NBA franchise at the conclusion of his Seahawks’ career in 2022, Morales has appeared in 112 career NBA G League regular season games (59 starts), all with Osceola (previously Lakeland).
During that stretch, the 51.4 career shooter (453-of-881) has posted a stat line of 10.2 points, 6.1 boards, 3.1 dimes and 1.6 steals in 27.4 minutes per game.
Earlier in his G-League career, Morales became the first NEC player to play in the NBA Summer League since FDU's Darnell Edge played for the Utah Jazz in 2019, as he played for the 2022 NBA champions Golden State Warriors that summer.
The Paterson, NJ native became the fourth player in league history to repeat as NEC Player of the Year (2020-21 and 2021-22), while also winning the Defensive Player of the Year award as a senior (2021-22). He joined LIU's Carey Scurry (1983-84 and 1984-85), Marist's Rik Smits (1986-87 and 1987-88) and LIU's Charles Jones (1996-97 and 1997-98) as the only players to win NEC Player of the Year twice while becoming the first Wagner player ever to achieve the feat. In addition, Morales became just the second player in conference annals to pull off the NEC Player of the Year and NEC Defensive Player of the Year sweep in 2022.
In his three-year career on Grymes Hill, Morales became the 13th player in NEC history to compile 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 250 assists.
NEC Players With NBA Playing Experience
Corsley Edwards, Central Connecticut - New Orleans - 2004-05
Charles Jones LIU, Chicago Bulls - 1998-99, LA Clippers - 1999-00
Alex Blackwell, Monmouth, - Los Angeles Lakers - 1992-93
Mike Iuzzolino, Saint Francis U - Dallas Mavericks - 1991-93
Mike Morrison, Loyola (MD) - Phoenix Suns - 1989-90
Rik Smits, Marist - Indiana Pacers - 1988-00
Carey Scurry, LIU - Utah Jazz - 1985-87, New York Knicks/Utah Jazz - 1987-88