DURHAM, N.C. – Four years ago, Morgan Callahan could not envision that one day she would become a 1,000-point, 600-rebound basketball performer at North Carolina Central.

Callahan struggled to find her footing her first two seasons due to COVID-19 and a hip injury. As a freshman, she played in 13 of 16 games due to the pandemic. A hip injury shelved her for the season after playing three games as a sophomore.

"The first year, I was completely checked out on basketball," said Callahan, a graduate forward who enrolled at NCCU in 2020. "I was homesick, I couldn't see anybody. I was very nervous to get on the court because of COVID. I couldn't go home and my family couldn't visit me. When I got injured my sophomore year, I was really, really down. Both were down years mentally and basketball-wise for me."

The NCCU forward rebounded to become one of the MEAC's top women's basketball players. She is the fourth Eagle in the Division I era to reach 1,000 career points and 600 career rebounds. On Tuesday, Callahan was selected to the MEAC All-Conference and All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive season.

Callahan averages 12.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals heading into this week's MEAC Tournament.

The team's second-leading scorer and best rebounder, Callahan credits teammates such as Aniya Finger for her turnaround. She also stayed injury free since the hip surgery.

"I had some good teammates around me that kept me upbeat," Callahan said. "Aniya and I are really close. We talked a lot. She definitely helped me."

She cites another reason for her emergence – Head Coach Terrence Baxter. He joined the Eagles' coaching staff as an assistant in 2021 before elevating to head coach last season.

"He played a huge, huge, role in my development," Callahan said. "I felt before I was in a box offensively. When he took over [as head coach], I grew a lot more that year. Before Coach Baxter, I wasn't a go-to person, a scorer. Coach Baxter wanted me to score."

Finally healthy, the 6-0 forward showed off the length and athleticism that made her a hot college prospect out of Zion-Benton Township High School. She was recruited by Detroit Mercy, Youngstown State, Miami (Ohio), North Carolina A&T and several Division II schools before deciding on NCCU.

A native of Beach Park, Ill., Callahan showed glimpses of her potential as a junior. She averaged 8.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in 31 games, including 25 as a starter.

The 2023-24 season was a breakout year for Callahan. She was named All-MEAC and MEAC All-Defense after averaging 13.4 points and 9.0 rebounds in all 27 games as a starter. That year, Callahan was third in scoring and rebounding, tied for sixth in blocks and tied for seventh in steals in the MEAC.

"I was really happy to play basketball again," Callahan said. "That's what made me regain the hunger. I had it taken away from me so when I got back, I wanted to perform my best every time."

Coach Baxter expanded Callahan's role this season. In addition to scoring and defending, he urged her to be a vocal leader. A reserved person by nature, Callahan originally frowned on the idea but it worked out well.

Callahan took command of a young Eagles' team including four freshman and four sophomores while putting up impressive numbers. She ranks eighth in scoring and third in rebounding, blocks and minutes played in the MEAC. She is among the top 70 shot blockers in the country.

"It was very, very weird," Callahan said with a smile. "I did not like it at all at first. I first told him they are not even listening to me, I don't know why I am doing this. But they were listening. This is a great group of girls this year, they were just young. They are new to almost everything."

Coach Baxter is not surprised at what she's accomplished.

"She's a hard worker," Baxter said. "She's a no-nonsense type of young lady. She comes in and gets it done. She's been a very important part of the program for the last few years. She probably going to end up with a picture on the wall here when it's all said and done."

Callahan is respected because of her on-court success and the adversity she faced during her early years at NCCU. Her story provides inspiration for an Eagles' squad that was limited by injuries early in the season.

After overcoming early obstacles, Callahan went on to have a record-setting career at NCCU.

"I didn't know I was close to either one of those milestones," Callahan said about scoring 1,000 points and grabbing 600 rebounds. "It was really exciting. I did start slow so I didn't think I would accomplish something like that."