SOLON - Raised 10 minutes from the University of Iowa, Matt Morrison bled black and gold.

However, once Solon standout David Gruber joined the University of Northern Iowa basketball program six years ago, Morrison began cheering for the purple and gold, too.

Now, Morrison has an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Gruber, an all-Missouri Valley Conference forward. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound point guard gave the Panthers a verbal commitment for the 2009 season late Tuesday night.

"It was cool someone from my school went to (UNI) and excelled," said Morrison, who averaged 16.4 points, 4.6 assists, 3.8 steals and 3.4 rebounds per game last season for the Spartans. "It gives you hope you can do the same thing."

Morrison had interest from Evansville, Missouri State, Northern Arizona and North Dakota, while Iowa State invited him to join as a preferred walk-on.

But after playing with several of UNI's current players in the Prime Time League this summer and getting acquainted with the coaching staff during the last few months, the southpaw said, "it was a pretty easy decision."

Morrison won't be on scholarship next season but will be starting with the 2009-2010 campaign. With point guards Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Ali Farokhmanesh and John Moran in the program, Morrison intends to redshirt next season.

"He has a terrific knowledge of the game," Solon coach Brad Randall said. "He's a very good passer, a very good shooter and a very good defender. He's a gym rat and won't be outworked by anybody."

Morrison, the sixth man for the Spartans as a freshman before starting the last two years, helped Solon compile a 23-2 record and third-place finish in Class 2A last season. He shot nearly 40 percent from the 3-point arc and 86 percent from the foul line.

In addition to that, Morrison, who just turned 17 last month, is also in his third year as the starting quarterback for the top-ranked and defending state champion Spartan football team.

"Coming up through the ranks, you knew he was going to be a great one," Randall said. "Whether it was football or basketball, his career has been accelerated.

"The scope of his game is very broad. He's a very complete high school player that is very poised and an intense competitor.

"I'm looking forward to his progress at Northern Iowa because I think he'll be a great one for the Panthers."

Morrison has spent the past few summers playing for the Iowa Barnstormers, a youth traveling team. That has aided his exposure.

"I feel really relieved to have this behind me," Morrison said. "I can focus on football now and not worry about any more visits. And once basketball comes, there's not that pressure on you every night."

Morrison is eligible to sign with UNI in November along with earlier commitments Marc Sonnen and Brian Conway.

Contact Matt Coss at (319) 291-1468 or matt.coss@wcfcourier.com