USU Hoops: Morgan Grims and bears it

Morgan Grim hasn't been healthy since the very beginning of the season, the product of a bum ankle that won't really heal without substantial rest.

That's what you don't know about Utah State's senior big guy. That's what hardly anyone knows.

But there's Grim, running, posting up, scoring, grimacing in pain, giving his final year of college hoops all he has. He's not the biggest, especially for a center. He's more like the anti Brady Jardine in that he has little vertical lift. He can be overpowered in the post.

But if basketball were measured by the heart displayed, Morgan Grim would be Dwight Howard. Massive.

On Wednesday night, Grim played one of his best games of the season against a tough, athletic Loyola Marymount squad. He scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He boxed out so that others could rebound. He made twisting shots in traffic.

And it was a good thing he did: The Aggies needed every point.

"Morgan just goes out there and gives it everything he's got," USU head coach Stew Morrill said. "He hasn't been healthy in quite a while. Yet he goes and plays every single night."

In a season where Jardine was lost for the rest of his career, things have been difficult for Grim. It doesn't help that he's followed in the footsteps of Jardine and Tai Wesley. It doesn't help that he's a natural power forward.

But the former transfer from Utah, and the former Riverton superstar has never complained. He's never talked about not being healthy. He's just gone out and quietly played. Sometimes he's been much less than effective. At others, like on Wednesday night, he's been highly effective.

But in a season with very little USU consistency, Morgan Grim has been a staple. He's played. And done it at much less than 100 percent.

Tony Jones