Kent State senior guard Morgan Safford is tired of waiting. Safford played eight games last season and then missed the rest of the season with a torn labrum that required surgery. Before that he was playing with a hip injury. Earlier in the pre-season he was out for a week with a dislocated finger.
He had to sit out the 2023-2024 season after transferring from Miami (OH). Safford also redshirted at Wofford his freshman season. Throughout his career he’s done a lot of watching. He’s been through a lot, with Kent State being his third school and entering his sixth year of college.
It’s time for Safford to make up for the time spent watching, and see if he can help lead his team back to the NCAA tournament.
“I feel great,” Safford said on our Kent State Basketball Preview Show. “I had a great recovery. It was six months. I pushed myself, worked extremely hard. I’m just excited to get back out there and play basketball, the game I love. I’m just excited to compete and win games.”
“It was excruciating pain but I’m glad I got it fixed. I move better. Like a lot of my teammates and coaches said, you can’t even tell I had surgery so I’m just glad to be back out there and be healthy.”
Safford is said to have the highest basketball IQ on the team according to Head Coach Rob Senderoff. With watching, can come wisdom. Experience adds a layer to that intellect as well.
The 6-5, 215 pound Safford who prepped at Columbus Bishop Hartley, is thrilled to be back on the court with his KSU teammates.
“I’m just ecstatic,” Safford said. “It’s a blessing to be able to go out there and play the game you love everyday, and when it’s taken from you, you really get to appreciate it and so I’ve got to appreciate it, watch and learn. The one thing about me is my basketball knowledge because I’ve had to wait and be around so many good players, so just being able to use that to help my team get back there.”
As a two way wing player, Safford can stuff a stat sheet. He will do whatever it takes to win and doesn’t need to score to express his value.
As Kent State embarks on the 2025-2026 season, a lot of veterans were lost last season. Safford, along with point guard Cian Medley and Rico Gillespie form a nucleus of veterans that freshmen and newcomers will look to follow.
Safford is ready to lead, produce and win. He’s done waiting.
“I’m just going to lead the best way I know how,” he said. “I’m going to be a vocal leader. I’m going to lead by example. I’m gonna push my teammates. I’m not the type of leader…if my teammates are slacking I’m not always going to talk to them nicely all the time because people need to be pushed to be the best they can. I’m going to push my teammates and I want them to also hold me accountable to push myself as well so we can get back to the NCAA tournament.”