Morris Peterson: A Lesson In Maturation
3/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 8, 2000
By Matt Larson,
Michigan State Sports Information
Morris Peterson has been thrilling Michigan State and college basketball fans all year. From his 31 points at North Carolina to his three-pointer to send the Indiana game at Breslin into overtime to his monster dunk over Ohio State's Ken Johnson in the closing minutes of yet another MSU victory, Peterson has put together a season worthy of a lengthy highlight reel.
But that's only part of the man known as "Pete" to his teammates and "Mo Pete" to the fans. While it appears certain that Peterson's name will be called during the NBA Draft in June, he is preparing for life after basketball.
This semester, Peterson is doing an internship at the Parkwood YMCA. Anyone who believes that this is just an opportunity for Peterson to fine tune his jump shot, has not heard him talk about his experiences.
His internship has entailed a little bit of everything from singing with preschool kids to jumping in the pool and helping senior citizens with swimming aerobics. One day, he will be manning the front desk swiping cards for members and doing maintenance work sweeping the floor and the next he'll be at an executive board meeting learning about the financial dealings of the organization.
"The internship gives me a complete look at everything required to run a center," said the 1999 All-Big Ten honoree. "I'm learning everything so hopefully I can one day run my own facility."
So what is it that interests Peterson about running a community center? He describes it as an extension of his personality.
"When I was looking for an internship, I wanted one that described myself, a person that is always willing to give help to others and who is thinking about other people in the community," explained Peterson.
But there is more to his desire than just personal development. In this venture as in so many other of Peterson's activities is a desire to be like his role model, his father, Morris Sr.
"My father is a community school director and I always saw the way the kids in the community looked up to him," said Peterson. "Growing up, I always envisioned running a youth center where kids could look up to me."
That Peterson's aspirations are influenced by his parents should come as a surprise to no one. Ask Peterson a question about growing up in Flint, Mich., and a big grin will be followed by one of many different stories about his father or mother Valerie.
"My parents have been my best fans, but they are also my biggest critics," said Peterson. "I hear about parents that tell their kids what the kid wants to hear. My parents do the opposite and tell me what I don't want to hear."
Their tough love has translated into making Peterson a complete person, not just a star athlete.
"They've taught me that it's good to be doing well in basketball, but if you don't take care of your responsibilities at home or in school, all the other stuff is irrelevant," explained Peterson. "I've learned that I can't be successful in basketball if I'm not doing well off the court."
Peterson first arrived on the MSU campus at age 17 as a talented basketball player who, by his own admission, was immature and lacking work ethic. With his parents an hour away in Flint, the role of providing Peterson with direction fell largely on the shoulders of MSU coach Tom Izzo.
"Coach Izzo stayed on me and never let up," said Peterson. "I've grown up a lot because even when I did well in something, coach made me realize that there was a bigger picture and that you only get better by performing on a consistent basis. It made me a better person."
So five years after his arrival in East Lansing, Peterson believes he is a better person. And everywhere Peterson looks he will see people who will agree with him, whether it be the senior citizens in the Parkwood YMCA swimming pool or the season-ticket holder at the Breslin Center who is amazed by his wide array of basketball skills.
Of course, Peterson's family and coaches will witness Peterson's finest accomplishment in the Breslin Center in May. That's when Morris Peterson completes the transformation of an immature 17-year old to a mature college graduate.