A lot has modified in the neighborhood surrounding Morningside Excessive. You may see the outlines of SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome, newly constructed world-class sports activities complexes that didn’t exist when the Inglewood faculty opened in 1951.
Then there’s the dramatic dip at school enrollment. As soon as a highschool with greater than 2,000 college students, the most recent enrollment determine has 421 college students, which isn’t sufficient to fill bleachers within the gymnasium.
The college district has made the choice to shut Morningside on the finish of June. College students from close by Inglewood Excessive will transfer into the house till that college finishes a rebuilding mission.
One of many banners in Morningside Excessive health club.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Occasions)
Morningside has an extended custom of sports activities stars having gained quite a few championships and earned many trophies. The banners seen on each side of the varsity health club date to 1951, from monitor to basketball to soccer.
Picture within the Morningside health club show case.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Occasions)
The college has been notably recognized for basketball, with former Lakers Byron Scott and Elden Campbell amongst its alumni. There’s additionally Lisa Leslie, a four-time Olympic group gold medalist who scored 101 factors in a highschool sport. Stais Boseman was top-of-the-line two-sport standouts from Morningside, main his group to a state title in basketball in 1992 whereas starring as a operating again in soccer. An ESPN 30/30 was made in 2017 about what occurred to the 5 starters after the unique documentary, “Hardwood Dreams in 1993.”
Nobody can provide higher perception into the impression Morningside had on their life than Jim Harrick, who gained an NCAA basketball title teaching UCLA in 1995 and acquired his begin at Morningside as a junior varsity coach in 1964.
“I go to places in Los Angeles and people come up to me, ‘I went to Morningside.’ It’s amazing,” the 84-year-old Harrick stated.
He was an assistant coach to Lee Smelser at Inglewood, taking up as varsity baseball coach in 1966 and head basketball coach in 1969 whereas instructing English.
“My years at Morningside were just spectacular,” he stated. “It was a learning, growing period. The most important thing you learn is how to teach in English class and make lesson plans.”
Morningside Excessive College, which opened in 1951, is closing on the finish of June.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Occasions)
He was round when one of many biggest gamers in California historical past was holding courtroom, Raymond Lewis of Verbum Dei.
“My first summer we get into the Gardena summer league,” Harrick stated. “We go play Verbum Dei. My head is going left and right. Oh my God. I’ve never seen anyone like that. He’s one of the top five players I’ve ever seen.”
Harrick had one of many prime highschool groups within the nation in his last season in 1972, then left to grow to be a school assistant at Utah State and start an extended school teaching profession that noticed his groups at Pepperdine, UCLA, Rhode Island and Georgia win 472 video games.
“The lessons I learned at Morningside propelled me to have the career I had,” he stated.
Like many alumni, he’s unhappy the varsity shall be closing however the sports activities program has deteriorated. The soccer group hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2013 and misplaced to Inglewood 106-0 in a controversial 2021 sport.
“It’s terrible the school district couldn’t keep it going,” stated former soccer coach Derwin Henderson, who was an LAPD sergeant and coached the final playoff group. “A lot of police officers came out of Morningside.”
The college district is placing collectively a mission to save lots of memorabilia. Present coaches must apply for teaching alternatives within the district.
Harrick has a number of optimistic reminiscences. He remembers holding a camp for fourth-graders, with Scott and Reggie Theus amongst his campers within the health club.
“We had some great players in the South Bay Area,” he stated. “Our track program was sensational.”
Harrick stated he studied John Wood throughout these years when UCLA was profitable NCAA title after NCAA title whereas utilizing the Bruins’ offense at Morningside.
“I thank the Lord every day for the joys of the John Wooden system of basketball,” he stated.
It’s all a part of the legacy of the Morningside Monarchs.
