For countless years, mother Tracey Page would tirelessly work two jobs from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily as a beautician and a saleswoman at JC Penney to provide for her four sons.

Page was able to give her sons the necessities in life, and her work ethic motivated them in every possible way.

That is why her oldest son, Morris Woods, Eastern junior guard, is the way he is today.

“I watched my mom struggle for me and my brothers for so long, so I get my work ethic from her,” Woods said. “I saw my mom working so hard, and if she could do I could do it too.”

On the Eastern men’s basketball team he has been subject to an extreme role change this season – playing seven minutes per game last season, to 22 minutes per game this season.

But before he was a key piece in Eastern’s new era of basketball, he endured his share of struggles growing up on the south side of Chicago.

Growing up Woods said he never considered himself poor, but he did realize that his brothers and he were not able to have the luxuries that some of their peers had.

He remembers asking for a pair of Air Jordan’s for Christmas one year as a child. 

Instead he found a pair of Reeboks from Payless Shoe Source under the tree that morning.

What once left a young Woods feeling disappointed, eventually cultivated into an appreciation for all he has been blessed with in his life.

“I am not complaining,” he said. “I am more humble because of my upbringing. I am able to appreciate what I have now. My mom did everything she could to help me succeed now.”

The success Woods is referring to is that in his 2012-13 season. 

In a basketball season that has been deemed a new era, Woods’ role might have gone through the most drastic identity change on the roster.

Aside from his minutes being more than tripled, halfway through this season, Woods has already attempted four times as many shots as all of last season. 

He has already had almost four times as many rebounds than all of last season, and more than four times as many assists as last season.

“I try to lead by example,” he said. “I’m not a vocal guy. I don’t think it’s a good approach to try and boss (teammates) around. If they see me working hard, they will work hard.”

Though this was not an overnight process for Woods. 

He spent endless hours training – lifting in the gym, perfecting his free throw shot, improving the technique in his jump shots and even ball handling drills.

Despite seeing limited time last season and needing to put the work in for the new transition, Woods said he is used to his new role, as he was the focal point of both his high school, Argo High School, and his junior college, Moraine Valley Community College.

Woods’ patience and composure is what allowed him reach what he has been dreaming of for so long. It was a long time coming, but he has finally reached his goal.

And now that he is on the starting roster of an NCAA team, he is not letting this opportunity pass him by.

“I have been visualizing this moment since I was about five years old,” Woods said. “I have been ready for this moment. Spoonhour told me to step up, so that’s what I did for our team.”

Woods is not a selfish player. 

Not in the slightest. In fact, he would never say it, but he scored his career-high 25 points in a conference loss to Tennessee Tech Jan. 10 at home.

All Woods would say is that the Panthers loss – something that does not go over well in his book.

For now, Woods’ greatest moment is his career-high of 25 points, but he has much bigger sights set: an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament berth this season.

Anthony Catezone can be reached at 581-2812 or ajcatezone@eiu.edu.