Another Overton helps Speedy Morris

Doug Overton could have told his son stories about his college basketball coach for hours. Heck, for even days, weeks and months into years.

Instead, he went for brevity.

"He only told me he's very passionate," Miles Overton said. "He said he'd let me find out the rest on my own."

Miles Overton, a junior, is a 6-3, 195-pound wing guard for St. Joseph's Prep and Friday he helped his coach, William "Speedy' Morris, again scribble his name into the record books.

The occasion was a mostly routine Catholic League quarterfinal, played in the afternoon at the Prep, and Overton totaled 18 points and three assists as the Hawks muffled Archbishop Wood, 76-49.

That arithmetic elevated Morris' career victory total at the high school level to 621-167 and he now shares this designation with Dan Dougherty (621-285), formerly of Malvern Prep and Episcopal Academy: winningest coach in city history.

Morris has "Dan Doc" beat on wins per season, 23.0 to 17.3, and percentage, .788 to .685 (very weird that Speedy's winning percentage matches his game total), but Dougherty owns the advantage in their teams' head-to-head meetings, at 4-2.

"He does? Are you sure?" Morris said, smiling. "Man, I thought we were tied at 3-3."

Nope, Dougherty captured three of the four meetings when Morris was coaching Penn Charter in the 1983 and '84 seasons. Morris had captured their lone confrontation in the five seasons ('77 through '81) when Dougherty was getting started at Episcopal and Morris was winding down at Roman Catholic. Then, in Dec. 2003, Episcopal triumphed, 47-42, over Prep.

"What? I don't remember that," Morris said, pleasantly. "I'm going to go check."

Morris, who recently had claimed his 900th overall win (guys/gals, high school/college), then began walking toward his office. His son, Keith, his first assistant, was standing right outside. As was John Griffin, a star guard on that team.

"They kicked our butt," Keith confirmed.

"Geez, I didn't remember," Speedy said.

Anyway . . .

"This is kind of mixed emotions," Morris said. "I'd like Dan to still have the record, really. I love that guy and I admire him as much as any coach I've been around. He did it the right way. Took the kids who walked through the door and did a great job with them.

"And I do know this: He'll be happy for me. That's how he is."

So will Doug Overton. After starring at Murrell Dobbins Tech ('87), Overton played his college ball at La Salle and his coach was Sir Speedy. Now, he's an assistant with the New Jersey Nets.

Doug was not on hand Friday, but that's not uncommon.

"With the lockout, his schedule has been crazy," Miles said. "He has made it to three or four games and he does come by sometimes to see us practice. When he's around, he doesn't try to coach me. He leaves that to Speedy. He just wants me to have fun and play hard. I mean, he'll point out little things, but he's never [overbearing]."

When asked to compare the two, Morris said, "Miles has a long way to go. Doug was a terrific point guard with a great basketball IQ. Miles is stronger and probably just as quick, but he's still learning. His problem is playing without the ball. He's getting better at it."

Friday, the problem was foul trouble.

Overton picked up his third personal 4 minutes prior to halftime. He'd also been a spectator for a spell beforehand, upon incurring his second.

"You don't want that stuff to happen," he said. "You just have to get past it. And not pick up more fouls when you get back out there."

Late in the first half, Wood was within 30-22. However, the Hawks stormed to 13 of the next 15 points. Overton hit a pair of treys to open the third quarter and rained down a third with 3:25 showing in that session, upping the lead to 51-28. Kevin Oberlies also scorched the east-end net during those 8 minutes, posting 12 of his 20 points.

"I don't really think of myself as a streaky shooter," Overton said. "I'll take the hot ones, though."

Overton added one more trey in the fourth quarter. In all, the Hawks sniped 14-for-31 from beyond the arc and all five starters hit at least two.

Oberlies outscored Overton, 20-18, while also doing a nice defensive job on impressive Wood soph Pat Smith (11 points). Junior guard Stephen Vasturia, who's already committed to Notre Dame, had 13 points, three assists and 11 rebounds. For Wood, Shane Neher totaled 15 points and five rebounds and late sub Colin Davis dished three assists.

Overton, who lives in West Chester but often spends weeknights at the home of his grandmom, Linda Overton, in the Overbrook Park section of West Philly, already boasts numerous offers. Saint Joseph's and Drexel are the local suitors while the far-aways extend to San Francisco.

"I don't think I want to go too far," he said.

He does believe, at least for now, coaching could make some sense.

"I want to play as long as I can," he said. "But being coached by Speedy, and having my dad around, and being coached by John Hardnett [late bulwark in the Sonny Hill League], I certainly have great examples on how to do it."

Online high school coverage at philly.com/rally.