CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Scott Morrison, Boston Celtics assistant head coach and Morell native, is the head speaker for the 2018 version of the Morell sportsman’s dinner.
Morrison along with four Morell High School basketballers Bailey Maclean, Lindsay Sanderson, Nathan Eldershaw and Thomas Craig will be honoured for their work on and off the hardwood at the annual to-do Saturday at the school. A reception goes at 6 p.m., the dinner follows at 7 p.m.
Morrison has quickly risen through the coaching ranks to reach the NBA after starting at Lakehead University where he coached the Wolves men’s team from 2003-2014. Along the way he led the team to Canadian Interuniversity Sport final-eight appearances from 2010-13.
In 2011 the team won the Ontario University Athletics championship and in 2010 he was chosen as OUA coach of the year.
Morrison became an assistant coach in 2012 with the under-19 Canada national team, and in 2014 was appointed the head coach of the NBA Development League’s Maine Red Claws. In 2017, Morrison took a gig as assistant head coach with the NBA Boston Celtics.
Morrison played at Morell Regional High School and from 1995-2000 with the UPEI Panthers, where he became the Panthers all-time leader in assists and three-point field goals made, and hold the Atlantic University Sport record for career three-pointers
Bailey MacLean
MacLean, the daughter of Jeff MacLean and Danielle Larkin of Morell, is a multi-sport athlete playing basketball, soccer and hockey at a competitive level. She’s on the P.E.I. under-17 girls soccer team and will be heading for the Canadian nationals in October in Surrey, B.C.
MacLean’s in her final year of high school basketball. Last season, she was named co-MVP on this year’s squad, earned a spot on the P.E.I. School Athletic Association (PEISAA) all-star team and took home Morell High’s female athlete of the year. She’s also a three-year member of the academic honour roll at Morell.
Lindsay Sanderson
Sanderson is the daughter of Monica and Rob Sanderson of St. Peter's Bay. Lindsay was named first-team all-star by PEISAA this year (and last year) and was co-recipient of this year’s MVP with Bailey MacLean. She won the MVP two seasons ago. Sanderson was also named academic female student athlete of the year.
Sanderson also was awarded the most improved player award on the Morell senior women's soccer team for the 2016-17 season.
Sanderson had the second-best average in her graduating year and plans to enter the engineering programme in St. F.X. University in Antigonish, N.S.
Nathan Eldershaw
Eldershaw, the son of Danny Eldershaw and Belinda Murphy, has also excelled in many sports. He went to soccer nationals in 2014 and 2015 with the Montague Eastern Eagles. He won an Island championship with the under-12 and under-14 with the Eagles.
In basketball Nathan was on the 2016 provincial champ team in Morell. He was selected team all-star in 2017 and this past year was a co-winner of Morell basketball MVP co-winner.
Eldershaw plans to attend Holland College in the fall.
Thomas Craig
Craig, the son of Linda and Brian Craig of Donaldson, is playing with the P.E.I. under-17 basketball team this summer as it preps for the nationals in Kamloops, B.C.
He plays basketball, soccer and badminton in high school and, since 2011, he has been a member of the 4H Club in Marshfield.
Craig was male student athlete of year in 2016-17, and MVP for three straight years, and was basketball co-MVP with Nathan Eldershaw. Craig plans to attend university.
Tickets are $100 each or a corporate table for eight is $1,000. Tickets available at the Morell Coop or from Kip Doyle at 902-629-0934 or 902-961-2668, or Mary Leah Doyle at 902-629-5324.
