For the second year in a row, Radford High School won the state 1A boys’ basketball title. During that time, it has been the leadership of Quinton Morton-Robertson that has led them to the “promised land.”
Surprisingly, to opponents and those sitting in the stands, Morton-Robertson is only a sophomore.
“Q,” as his teammates and coaches call him, is hard to crack off the court, shy in nature, but look out when he gets the rock in his hands on the basketball court.
His coach, Rick Cormany, said his point guard has grown up a lot. “He started to realize what this team needed this year. After the Northside loss, he became more vocal and more of a leader. He took great strives this season in that direction,” he said.
Morton-Robertson scored 593 total points and averaged 20.4 points per game this season. He shot 51 percent from the field and 44.2 percent from behind the three-point line. He also pulled down 87 rebounds.
A concussion knocked him out of three games, and he admits that watching from the sideline gave him a whole new perspective of the game and his team.
“I had to sit there and watch how good my teammates were, and they were pretty good,” he said.
It also doesn’t hurt that Morton-Robertson and most of the other Bobcats have been playing ball with each other since fifth grade.
“That helps cause I know what they can do and sometimes even where they will be on the court. We have a lot of team chemistry,” he said.
Morton-Robertson’s life revolves around basketball. Already he has started lifting in an effort to get stronger for next season. At 5-6, he has a lot of growing to do, but opponents have learned that he is a lot taller when he puts on the black and gold uniform. His stylish hair-doo also makes him at least four inches taller.
Looking back at the two state championships, Morton-Robertson is for now cherishing the moment but also looking to next season when Radford returns four starters and a very deep bench. “I think we can compete next year, and I’m excited to do it all again,” he said.
Already, the Radford guard is garnering some attention from college coaches, and Cormany believes he can play at a higher level.
Morton-Robertson was joined on the all-county/all-city boys’ basketball team by Grant Johnston of Blacksburg, Aaron Felty of Eastern Montgomery, Quinton Clayborne of Christiansburg and Dylan Akers of Auburn.
All five ball players were named first team of their respective conferences this season.
Akers was a bright spot for Auburn this season as the junior point guard pumped in 14 points per game, hitting on 46 percent his shots, including 40 percent from three point range.
Johnston, who is only a sophomore, averaged 14 points per game and pulled down 7.2 rebounds per clip.
Felty was another strong player in the paint that was able to step outside for a short jumper for Eastern Montgomery this season. The senior playmaker will be missed as the school tries to re-establish the program in the Pioneer District.
Clayborne came on late the season and was dominant inside, grabbing double figure rebounds in the final 10 games for Christiansburg.
