Jim Stromberg remembers a conversation he had with Brad Rees two years ago when both were assistant coaches for Mount Hebron's girls basketball team.
The discussion occurred during the warm-up before Mount Hebron's game against Seton Keough.
"We were watching Seton Keough warm up," Stromberg said, "and Brad said, 'It would be nice to coach them in two years, wouldn't it?' They were so athletic and it seemed like they really enjoyed playing the game."
In particular, Stromberg and Rees noticed a lanky freshman named Melanie Morris.
Now, two years later, Stromberg is the Seton Keough coach and Morris has blossomed into one of the area's best players.
Morris, a 5-foot-7 junior, has played a major role in the Gators' resurgence the past two seasons.
After finishing 7-14 in Morris' freshman year, Seton Keough has gone 41-12, including a 23-2 mark this season.
Predicted by most to finish third in the Catholic League behind St. Frances and St. Mary's, the sixth-ranked Gators won the league regular-season title with a 13-1 record.
Today, the Gators begin their quest to win the league tournament with a quarterfinal at home against Mercy.
Morris, a point guard who also has played small forward and shooting guard, leads the Gators in scoring with an 11.9 average.
Although she is capable of hitting the outside shot, Morris' forte is her ability to drive to the basket.
"She's not a jump shooter. She forces the action and puts pressure on the defense," Stromberg said. "Her quick first step allows her to get to the basket. She can make things happen."
Morris also averages 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists, but her value to the team goes beyond statistics.
It's Morris' work ethic, determination and smart play that have impressed Stromberg.
"In the hottest days of the summer, she is still in the gym working on her game," Stromberg said. "Even though she also plays soccer, she always finds time to do something basketball-related. She really understands how the game is played."
Morris is the catalyst of the Gators' pressure defense.
Stromberg always assigns Morris to defend the opposing team's top player, regardless of that player's style.
Whether it's a strong post player like Mount de Sales' 6-2 center Amy Buck, a good outside shooter and ballhandler such as Mercy's Shannon Cohen or slashing players such as St. Frances' Melba Chambers and the Institute of Notre Dame's Robin Johnson, Morris has held them all below their scoring averages.
"Against a taller player it's hard because I get pushed around down low," said Morris. "But it's just a matter of knowing how to position yourself."
Morris, who averages less than one turnover, has shown the ability to perform in the clutch in big games.
For example, in a 45-43 win over IND last month, Morris -- who had been held to one field goal -- scored the Gators' last six points with a succession of strong drives to the basket.
Earlier this month, Morris made both ends of a one-and-one with 16 seconds remaining to secure a 45-42 win over St. Frances.
And two weeks ago, she scored 17 of her 22 points in the fourth quarter to spark the Gators to a 55-40 defeat of St. Mary's.
"She has an incredible will to win," Stromberg said. "She wants the outcome of the game to be based on what she does."
That's not to say that Morris isn't a team player.
"She doesn't try to do things she can't do," Stromberg said. "She has allowed her teammates to improve by letting them take shots she normally would have taken. She sacrifices her game quite a bit for the team."