John Morton, a Bronx native and former NBA first-round draft choice, is in his fifth season as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Fordham University.

“We are thrilled to have John Morton join our staff,” said head coach Tom Pecora. “His reputation, not only as a tremendous player but as a great person, makes him a great fit for the Fordham basketball program.”

Prior to arriving at Fordham, Morton was an assistant coach at Saint Peter’s College from 2006-2010, helping the Peacocks to a 16-win season, eleven of those in the MAAC, good for a fourth place regular season conference finish in 2010. That core group went on to win the MAAC championship the following season, earning a NCAA berth.

Prior to joining Saint Peter’s Morton served as the administrative assistant on Seton Hall’s 2006 NCAA tournament team.

Morton was a four-year starter for the Pirates from 1985-1989. In 1987-1988 he led Seton Hall to its first NCAA Tournament berth and, a year later - a year in which he was named Third Team All-Big East, guidede the Pirates on a memorable run to the 1989 national championship game where Seton Hall fell in overtime to Michigan. Following his senior season, Morton won the Haggerty Award as the top player in the metropolitan area.

Following his collegiate career, Morton was selected in the first round of the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 25th player chosen overall. He played for Cleveland for two seasons before spending a year with the Miami Heat.

After playing with the Rapid City Thrillers of the CBA, Morton went overseas, playing professionally in Spain from 1993-1999. While in Spain, Morton enjoyed a tremendous stint in the prestigious ACB League, earning five All-Star honors. Morton also played professionally in Italy and the Philippines.

Morton was inducted into the New Jersey Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2004 he was a recipient of the John D. “Honey” Russell Award, an award annually presented to a former Seton Hall player who truly represents the values of Seton Hall University. A 1997 SHU Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, he received his bachelor’s degree in communications from Seton Hall in 1990.

A Bronx native, Morton played high school basketball at Walton High School in the Bronx where he was named to the New York All City and State High School team. Morton was also a Converse All- American.

Morton and his wife, Giovanni, have twin boys, Jayden and Jordan and reside in East Windsor, NJ. He also has a daughter, Schyler.