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Alexis Morris: The LSU Tigers’ Lex Luthor and ultimate comeback kid

By Charlie Hubbard

Apr 2, 2023; Dallas, TX, USA; LSU Lady Tigers guard Alexis Morris (45) reacts while cutting down a piece of the net after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes during the final round of the Women's Final Four NCAA tournament at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2023; Dallas, TX, USA; LSU Lady Tigers guard Alexis Morris (45) reacts while cutting down a piece of the net after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes during the final round of the Women's Final Four NCAA tournament at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alexis Morris was among the most significant factors that led LSU to their first basketball national title. Her story is also among the most interesting.

Few players experienced the rollercoaster basketball career that Alexis Morris has. Morris played on four teams in six years, including a pair of dismissals. What started with her release from Kim Mulkey’s Baylor program ended with conquering the sport with Mulkey at LSU.

Indeed, Alexis Morris’s story is that of a comeback kid. She’s also embraced a villainous but resilient alter-ego that earned her the nickname ‘Lex Luthor.’

Alexis Morris began her collegiate career with the Baylor Bears in 2017-18. Originally a UCLA commit, Morris was her class’s best point guard recruit. Her freshman season was a high point, as she averaged 9.5 points and 3.5 assists a game. After that, however, her career took a turn for the worst.

Morris was booted from Baylor by Mulkey due to several violations of team rules. She was later arrested twice, once for assault and once for possession of marijuana. As a result, the point guard transferred to Rutgers.

NCAA transfer rules (at the time) mandated Morris sit out the 2018-19 season. The following season, she would only appear in seven games, coming off the bench. Suffice it to says, Morris’s 2019-20 season was lackluster. She averaged one point and 0.6 assists per game.

“At one point when I left Rutgers, I wasn’t even going to play ball again,” said Morris when asked about her stop in Piscataway.

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However, Morris continued playing basketball; thus, she continued her journey across the collegiate landscape.

Her next stop was in College Station, where she spent the 2020-21 season at Texas A&M. Once again, she started zero games and only averaged six points per. Then, after three long seasons, Morris reunited with Mulkey in Baton Rouge.

In her first season at LSU, Morris averaged career highs in minutes, points, and rebounds while starting 25 of 28 games. The 2021-22 Tigers with Morris were a much-improved team. However, they suffered a second-round loss to No. 6 Ohio State in the 2022 Women’s NCAA Tournament.

Things changed in 2022-23 after Mulkey courted Angel Reese, Flau’jae Johnson, and Kateri Poole to Death Valley. As a result, LSU molded into a winner and knocked-off Caitlin Clark and No. 2 Iowa to capture the 2023 Women’s NCAA National Championship.

Alexis Morris was a huge factor in the tournament title game, scoring 21 points and dishing out nine assists. She also locked down Clark in the second half, something nobody in women’s basketball could do all season. If you ask Morris, we bet she’d claim Lex Luthor was the one playing defense that night.

Regardless, Alexis Morris’s story is one of perseverance and determination. When it was easy to give up, she kept fighting, knowing she had more. Now, her journey has come full circle.

Next. Angel Reese hand-gestures upset some salty spectators. dark

LSU’s Lex Luthor leaves the college scene a national champion and an inspiration for children to look up to.

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