11/12/2026 9:43:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Pirate Blue
South Orange, N.J. - John Morton, one of the leading Seton Hall men's basketball players to help the Pirates reach national prominence in the 1980s, will be honored this season as part of the Pirates Legends Series! Morton will be recognized during the Dec. 4 game vs. Kansas State at Prudential Center.
Tickets to the game vs. the Wildcats are available through Ticketmaster.
A native of the Bronx, Morton played for the Pirates from 1985-89 and was part two historic Seton Hall squads: the 1987-88 team that was the first in program history to reach the NCAA Tournament and then the 1988-89 team that captivated the world with its run to the NCAA national championship game.
At the time of his graduation, Morton flooded the Seton Hall record books, finishing ninth all-time in points scored (1,621), fourth in three-point shooting percentage (.391), second in assists (452) and second in steals (207).
During his senior season of 1988-89, Morton helped the Pirates win 25 games during the regular season and reach as high as No. 9 in the national rankings. Then he and his teammates went on an epic run through March Madness. He scored 26 points and 17 points, respectively, to help the Pirates win their first two NCAA Tournament games and reach the Sweet Sixteen. He then had 17 points in an upset win over Indiana to push the Pirates into the Elite Eight.
Saving his best for last, Morton scored 35 points in the national championship game against Michigan. He scored 17 of Seton Hall's last 20 points, including the three-pointer with 25 seconds left in regulation that sent the game into overtime. At the time, it was the fifth-highest scoring performance in a national championship game.
At career's end, Morton's accolades included All-BIG EAST, All-Metropolitan, the 1989 Haggerty Award winner as the best player in the Metropolitan New York area, NABC All-District and 1989 BIG EAST Championship and NCAA Final Four All-Tournament teams.
Morton is now the seventh to be named to the Pirates Legends Series, created to re-introduce Seton Hall fans to the basketball legends who helped shape Seton Hall into the great basketball school it is today. Two additional legends for 2026-27 will be announced at a later date.
Pirates Legends Series
2024-25: Jodi Brooks, Mark Bryant, Dan Callandrillo
2025-26: Greg Tynes, Jerry Walker, Dana Wynne
2026-27: John Morton, TBA, TBA
Tickets to the game vs. the Wildcats are available through Ticketmaster.
A native of the Bronx, Morton played for the Pirates from 1985-89 and was part two historic Seton Hall squads: the 1987-88 team that was the first in program history to reach the NCAA Tournament and then the 1988-89 team that captivated the world with its run to the NCAA national championship game.
At the time of his graduation, Morton flooded the Seton Hall record books, finishing ninth all-time in points scored (1,621), fourth in three-point shooting percentage (.391), second in assists (452) and second in steals (207).
During his senior season of 1988-89, Morton helped the Pirates win 25 games during the regular season and reach as high as No. 9 in the national rankings. Then he and his teammates went on an epic run through March Madness. He scored 26 points and 17 points, respectively, to help the Pirates win their first two NCAA Tournament games and reach the Sweet Sixteen. He then had 17 points in an upset win over Indiana to push the Pirates into the Elite Eight.
Saving his best for last, Morton scored 35 points in the national championship game against Michigan. He scored 17 of Seton Hall's last 20 points, including the three-pointer with 25 seconds left in regulation that sent the game into overtime. At the time, it was the fifth-highest scoring performance in a national championship game.
At career's end, Morton's accolades included All-BIG EAST, All-Metropolitan, the 1989 Haggerty Award winner as the best player in the Metropolitan New York area, NABC All-District and 1989 BIG EAST Championship and NCAA Final Four All-Tournament teams.
Morton is now the seventh to be named to the Pirates Legends Series, created to re-introduce Seton Hall fans to the basketball legends who helped shape Seton Hall into the great basketball school it is today. Two additional legends for 2026-27 will be announced at a later date.
Pirates Legends Series
2024-25: Jodi Brooks, Mark Bryant, Dan Callandrillo
2025-26: Greg Tynes, Jerry Walker, Dana Wynne
2026-27: John Morton, TBA, TBA
Saturday, November 07
Friday, November 06
Tuesday, November 03
Saturday, October 31
