Father, Veteran, Son, Teammate: Trevon Morgan’s Unconventional Path at Harford

Trevon Morgan is not the typical college student-athlete. He is a father, an Army veteran, a full-time student, and plays forward for the Harford Community College men's basketball team.

His life's journey brought him back to Bel Air, Maryland, where, as a true freshman just out of high school, he was a member of the 2018-19 Fighting Owls. Morgan, 25, has always dreamed of playing big-time college basketball and has had the support of his family ever since he can remember.

"My parents sacrificed a lot for me when I was young," Morgan said. "They weren't always able to attend my games, but they were always giving me support."

Time off the court was important to Morgan as well. He lived with his extended family, and they made time for fun when he was young.

"My cousin used to make obstacle courses," Morgan said. "We couldn't touch the ground and had to jump on trees and chairs to make it from point A to point B."

Morgan can trace his love of basketball back to when he was four years old. He would wake up at 6 a.m. to practice with his dad, the latter having grown up playing in highly competitive Baltimore City pickup games. His mother, Loretta, was extremely talented in her own right, earning a scholarship to play at Delaware State.

With Morgan, his athleticism did not fall far from the tree. He lettered in two varsity sports in high school and made the varsity basketball team at Wilde Lake, where he was named second-team all-county as a freshman. After transferring to Long Reach before his sophomore year, he made first-team all-county that year and the next.

His athletic prowess then led him to play football his junior and senior years of high school, alongside basketball.

"I was just naturally athletic," Morgan said. "Football came naturally to me. My coach could tell me to go run and catch, and it was easy."

Naturally athletic might have been an understatement for Morgan, who, due to his play on the football field, received an NCAA Division I offer to play football at the University of Minnesota. That offer came on top of the five or six NCAA Division II offers he received for basketball.

Unfortunately for Morgan, his high school basketball career was cut short. He broke his leg playing football during his senior year. All the college coaches recommended that he go to junior college for a year.

Morgan got in touch with his high school basketball coach, who connected him with former Harford head men's basketball coach Mike Smelkinson. Morgan's athleticism and natural skills led him to join the Fighting Owls for the 2018-19 season, where he played 16 games as a freshman.
Off the court, it was important to Morgan that he take care of his family. His grandmother, whom he had lived with since he was young, passed away in February of 2020. Morgan had been taking care of her shortly before her passing.

His grandmother had a lot of visitors during this time, most of whom had served in the Army.

"She had a lot of visitors," Morgan said. "She used to work at Walter Reed [National Military] Medical Center as a cafeteria manager. It was crazy to see high-ranking officials coming to visit."

The visitors knew that Morgan played basketball, but told him to keep the Army in mind as an option if he decided he was finished with the sport.

Morgan decided to join the Army in the summer of 2020. Even though it wasn't exactly what he wanted to do at first, Morgan felt that going away from home and having some independence would be good for him.

Morgan learned leadership during his time in the Army and found a way to relate the skills to basketball. He now finds it easier to understand the coach's perspective and tries to pass that on to his teammates.

"Not only are the coaches trying to make us better ballplayers," Morgan said. "They are trying to make us men."

Morgan was able to continue playing basketball during his service time. The post he was stationed at in California had a basketball team that would travel to play other posts in the region.

The competition didn't stay within the Army either, as they would play against the other branches of the military as well.

"We played the Marines, the Air Force, the Navy," Morgan said. "A lot of West Coast teams, as well as some Colorado and Texas teams."

Morgan was nearing the end of his contracted service and his love of basketball was still calling for him. It was a difficult decision, but he decided that once his contract was up, he would return home and continue playing basketball in college.

Morgan finished his military service in the fall of 2025, which lined up for a return to the Fighting Owls in what would be his sophomore season, a little more than six years after his freshman season.

Morgan played in 26 games this season and started 18. He became a key part of head coach Solomon Zurier's starting lineup and often matched up with the opponents' top players.

"Trevon is one of my favorite people that I've ever had the pleasure of being around," Zurier said. "His leadership and toughness were always on display, as well as his zest for playing basketball. I have immense respect for him as a man."

Morgan did not return to Harford alone. In May 2021, shortly after beginning his service, he married his high school sweetheart, Anyssa Heger. The two lived together in California, where Morgan was stationed.

The two had a son who is now 3, going on 4 years old. Anyssa and their son attended all of his games. If transferring to a four-year institution happens for Morgan, Heger and the couple's son intend not to miss any games wherever he ends up in the fall.

"If he has to go away and handle business, he knows we'll come to games," said Heger.

Finding time for family while taking a full load of classes and playing basketball was challenging for Morgan, but he made it work.

His mornings start between 6-8 a.m. with some cardio and weightlifting before taking his son to school. He spends the rest of the morning working on schoolwork. After a 45-minute drive to campus around 2:30 p.m., Morgan is there for practice from 4-8 p.m., and he doesn't get home until close to 10 p.m.

Inspiring his son is one of the things Morgan is trying to accomplish this season.

"I want to show him how hard you have to work towards something," Morgan said. "And show him the little things not about the game itself, that go into the game."

Working with teammates and preparation skills are things that Morgan's son can relate to the real world as well.

Coming back home to play basketball was a family decision, but not a hard one to make for Morgan.

"The whole part of my decision to come back and play basketball is so that I can come back and have that experience and photos with my mom and dad," Morgan said. "And now I have the opportunity to create that with not only my parents, but my wife and son as well.

Having these memories with his family is not something that Morgan says he will ever regret. Thankfully, this is not the end of those memories, but just the beginning, as Morgan has committed to playing basketball at Notre Dame of Maryland University next season.

Morgan has proven to himself this season that he can hang with the young guys. Most importantly, he will have the opportunity to continue to live out his dream.

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Players Mentioned

#30 Trevon Morgan: W; 6' 4"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#30 Trevon Morgan
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: W

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Father, Veteran, Son, Teammate: Trevon Morgan’s Unconventional Path at Harford

Players Mentioned

#30 Trevon Morgan

Players Mentioned

#30 Trevon Morgan