Photo: AP Photo/Brandon Dill

Ja Morant run away with the 2019-2020 Rookie of the Year award, as he was the almost unanimous NBA ROTY for the 2019-2020 season.

The Grizzlies’ star dedicated the award to the kids that are not heavily recruited in the NCAA. Ja Morant played at little-known Murray State, where he gradually rose to prominence.

“For guys, kids who, you know, not heavily recruited right now, then this will give them a lot of hope,” Morant said on NBA on TNT, after receiving his trophy.

Ja Morant has taken a huge leap during his one season in Murray State and rose rapidly in the draft rankings. He was the second overall pick of the 2019 draft, behind Zion Williamson, who was picked at no. 1.

Morant received 99 first-place votes, while Zion had just one. The Memphis Grizzlies’ rookie averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 assists per game during the 2019-2020 campaign.