Hank Morgan wasn’t expecting this kind of opportunity when he finished his college basketball career at Division III Hamilton College in 2025.

Morgan, who played 17 games for the Maine Celtics last season, was on the Boston Celtics roster for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas this July.

“There’s always a hope, you always believe in yourself deep down, but just knowing how hard it is to get to Summer League from Division III, I don’t think I thought that it would happen,” said Morgan, the 2024-25 NESCAC Player of the Year. “I knew it was feasible, like I said, believed in myself, but no, I didn’t think I’d be here this time last year or I guess a year and a half ago when I was at Hamilton.”

The 24-year-old, 6-foot-5, 200-pound free-agent forward was one of several players on Boston’s roster who had ties to the organization prior to Summer League. He played 24 NBA G League games last year, including seven with Salt Lake City. With Maine, he averaged 8.2 points in 19.2 minutes.

In Las Vegas, Morgan played alongside Amari Williams and Hugo González, both of whom are under contract with Boston, and recent draftees Dillon Mitchell and Chris Cenac Jr. John Tonje, who played 11 games for the Maine Celtics and has since signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, was also on the Celtics’ Summer League roster. 

“It was a great experience to kind of get under my belt,” Morgan said. “I wasn’t able to do it last summer, so this was my first one and I was really excited about it. That was my goal during the season, was to try and get to a place where I could play Summer League.”

Boston assistant Amile Jefferson coached the Summer League team. Celtics guard Derrick White joined him for a stint on the sidelines. 

“(Derrick) White was super cool for one or two games, and Amile (Jefferson’s) a great guy,” Morgan said. “Obviously, (Jefferson) was in the same position that we were not too long ago, and he played with Jayson Tatum in college, so he’s just a great basketball mind to be around, and the staff is full of just really smart, really high-IQ player development guys, and all … played at a really high level.”

Morgan played 33 minutes across the four games. Against the Atlanta Hawks on July 13, he scored nine points in nine minutes.

“I felt like (against Atlanta) I was able to just make the most of my controllables,” Morgan said. “I didn’t play many minutes, but was able to come in and have an impact.”

Not only did Morgan get the chance to play, he was able to see and talk to some high-profile NBA players, coaches and Hall of Famers.

“I talked to, just said what’s up to Anthony Davis, Patrick Ewing, obviously guys in the Celtics organization,” Morgan said. “It was cool to see Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens and just legends in the game that you’re just kind of casually catching up with if you see them in the lobby or wherever.”

Whether or not Morgan will end up back in Maine come November is still up in the air, but for now, his offseason pursuits continue with his first Summer League officially under his belt. 

“Most likely will be playing in the G League again next year,” Morgan said. “Nothing’s really set in stone yet, but I like Maine, I think they like me, so (I’m) hoping to get another chance there and just get a little more comfortable and a little more confident and keep building and keep getting more opportunity there. I think that would be a lot of fun.”