SANTA ANA Standing amidst an adrenalized sea of scarlet-and-gray swathed students, Chris Stone – the managing editor of Sports Illustrated – addressed the Mater Dei student body, asking the 1,000-plus in attendance to guess how many athletes had been recognized in the magazine’s storied “Faces in the Crowd” section.
Positioned next to Stone was Malik McMorris, captain of the Monarchs football team.
The answer: Upwards of 18,000 ahtletes have been featured in the “Faces” section of the magazine, which began running weekly in 1956.
Stone followed that up with another query, asking how many individuals had been selected Sports Illustrated’s High School Athlete of the Month.
Prior to Friday, zero would have been the correct response.
That all changed Friday morning when McMorris was announced as the inaugural selection for Sports Illustrated’s High School Athlete of the Month, which included him being honored in front of the entire school during an assembly in Mater Dei’s gymnasium.
“I’m just blessed having the opportunity to be selected for this,” McMorris said after the presentation. “I didn’t know it was going to be that big, but it just exceeded my expectations. I’m glad to see everyone supporting me. Just having my classmates chant my name was pretty cool and exciting.”
While his dominance on the gridiron and in track and field – he helped the Monarchs win a state title last year – initially put him on SI’s radar, it was his character and integrity in the face of adversity that set him apart from the rest of the field.
McMorris’ mother, Lucy, died of breast cancer at the age of 39 in January.
With his father, Patrick, working night shifts and a brother, Hakim, enrolled at a school in Tennessee, it was Malik who cared for his mom when his dad was working, and who also helped his three younger sisters – who are triplets – whenever need be.
“We decided to start this program to promote athletes whose excellence extended deeper than on the field,” Stone explained. “We wanted someone who leaves an imprint on their family and community through leadership. That was Malik.”
Upon receiving the award, McMorris was also invited to play in this year’s Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl at the StubHub Center in Carson.
The senior defensive lineman received a standing ovation from his fellow classmates, Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson, as well as former Mater Dei quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart.
“What separates greatness, to me, is an individual who has the total package, meaning they have spiritual strength, academic strength and obviously academic ability,” Rollinson said. “That’s what separates Malik into the top-five percent of kids I’ve been associated with over the years. It’s a tremendous award and well deserved.”
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com