Emmitt Matthews Jr Official Visit this weekend

[Candyman]

Lack of exposure is certainly a factor. Matthews himself is very vocal about how little attention anyone from Washington gets outside of Seattle.

Also there's the issue of track record against top tier talent. Matthews has grown a lot and switched positions over the past year. The summer sessions aren't insignificant sample sizes, but they aren't huge either. If it's his first AAU season of playing on the perimeter, there's only so many opportunities that coaches/scouts have had to evaluate him.

Luckily, Matthews isn't the type who is putting up the numbers despite a bad frame or lack of athleticism. His measurables seem great and he seems to (at minimum) be an average athlete. Combine that with his efficiency and usage in UAA games this summer, and he seems like a diamond in the rough.

How were his AAU numbers? I'm sure it hurt a bit playing in the UA Circuit which I think thats where he was.

 

[david]

How were his AAU numbers? I'm sure it hurt a bit playing in the UA Circuit which I think thats where he was.

13.9 pts/5.5 reb/1.3 ast on .474 fg%

UAA

 

[Whtdmd]

How were his AAU numbers? I'm sure it hurt a bit playing in the UA Circuit which I think thats where he was.

google washington supremes. he was the leading scorer. shoot 47% from 2 35% from 3, 85% in ft. 6'7" wingspan and 26% vertical. The sample was 16 games so that is enough to state that he is a good shooter. Now he might be Iggy B's replacement in our recruiting. Does not Carey since we need a SG

 

[UConnStats]

How were his AAU numbers? I'm sure it hurt a bit playing in the UA Circuit which I think thats where he was.

Washington Supreme (UA) stats this summer: 26 MIN/G, 13.9 PPG, 47% FG, 36% 3P (4.1 3PA), 85% FT, 5.5 REB, .94 STL, .44 BLK.

 

[ctchamps]

Washington Supreme (UA) stats this summer: 26 MIN/G, 13.9 PPG, 47% FG, 36% 3P (4.1 3PA), 85% FT, 5.5 REB, .94 STL, .44 BLK.

3pt fg% needs improvement but kid has been working on it and I imagine his sudden growth will cause some need for readjustment.

 

[the Q]

3pt fg% needs improvement but kid has been working on it and I imagine his sudden growth will cause some need for readjustment.

But that FT% gives me hope he's a better shooter than that.

 

[navery12]

Yukon should be banned from the boneyard..

My grandmother spent my entire freshman year of college thinking I was going to college in Alaska after I told her I was going to UConn

 

[ctchamps]

But that FT% gives me hope he's a better shooter than that.

I agree. Was qualifying the low 3pt% numbers before people start panicking given that we are touting him as an incoming shooter.

 

[UConnStats]

I agree. Was qualifying the low 3pt% numbers before people start panicking given that we are touting him as an incoming shooter.

4.1 3 point attempts per game is more than we'd see from him as well.

 

[ctchamps]

4.1 3 point attempts per game is more than we'd see from him as well.

I'm hoping this kid heads north of 40% and the option remains open. But agree, there are potentially a lot of players ahead of current Matthews to not need 4 3pters/game.

 

[Mooch82]

I agree. Was qualifying the low 3pt% numbers before people start panicking given that we are touting him as an incoming shooter.

Wouldn't say 36% is bad either...40% is considered very good. I'd also expect that to slightly improve as he takes less.

 

[UCFan1513]

Is he a SG or SF? Have seen him listed as a SF, but have also seen talk of him being a guard. Only reason why I wonder is if he comes in as a SF, and Polley slots at the SF, then we may be able to slide Sid Wilson (6'6) to SG and no longer have the problem of only having 3 guards. The fact that we aren't actively recruiting another Guard (outside of Carey), but are still going after another SF and big leads me to believe that the staff may slot Wilson as a SG, and play Polley at the SF with another recruit coming in to play SF as well. Moving Polley from the PF to the SF would also open up space in the front court, which may explain why we are going after another big. Thoughts?

 

[WrenchFan69]

Is he a SG or SF? Have seen him listed as a SF, but have also seen talk of him being a guard. Only reason why I wonder is if he comes in as a SF, and Polley slots at the SF, then we may be able to slide Sid Wilson (6'6) to SG and no longer have the problem of only having 3 guards. The fact that we aren't actively recruiting another Guard (outside of Carey), but are still going after another SF and big leads me to believe that the staff may slot Wilson as a SG, and play Polley at the SF with another recruit coming in to play SF as well. Moving Polley from the PF to the SF would also open up space in the front court, which may explain why we are going after another big. Thoughts?

It's not that complicated. Calling Wilson a guard doesn't mean we don't only have 3 guards. Wilson will probably guard some 2s if we go big and 3s at other times. Polley will probably guard 4s if we go small and 3s at other times. Positions don't matter, just ability and potential.

 

[UCFan1513]

It's not that complicated. Calling Wilson a guard doesn't mean we don't only have 3 guards. Wilson will probably guard some 2s if we go big and 3s at other times. Polley will probably guard 4s if we go small and 3s at other times. Positions don't matter, just ability and potential.

Right, but if we got a 4th PG type (6' to 6'3) I feel like there'd be a logjam of players who fit into the prototypical SF

 

[UConnStats]

We're getting ahead of ourselves here, but in a lineup featuring Wilson, Polley, and Matthews, I think positionally you'd see:

2: Matthews
3: Wilson
4: Polley

Polley is taller than Wilson according to those team photos, is less of a ball handler, and has an excellent baseline/mid range jumper. He's the ideal stretch 4, although his rebounding is worse than Wilson's.

Wilson is maybe the most versatile because of his athleticism. He's also the best iso scorer of the three.

The good thing about this group is that they could ideally switch men on defense without skipping much of a beat. That would be very nice.

 

[rip7774]

We're getting ahead of ourselves here, but in a lineup featuring Wilson, Polley, and Matthews, I think positionally you'd see:

2: Matthews
3: Wilson
4: Polley

Polley is taller than Wilson according to those team photos, is less of a ball handler, and has an excellent baseline/mid range jumper. He's the ideal stretch 4, although his rebounding is worse than Wilson's.

Wilson is maybe the most versatile because of his athleticism. He's also the best iso scorer of the three.

The good thing about this group is that they could ideally switch men on defense without skipping much of a beat. That would be very nice.

Sounds like positionless basketball! Love it.

 

[Wordbomar]

We're getting ahead of ourselves here, but in a lineup featuring Wilson, Polley, and Matthews, I think positionally you'd see:

2: Matthews
3: Wilson
4: Polley

Polley is taller than Wilson according to those team photos, is less of a ball handler, and has an excellent baseline/mid range jumper. He's the ideal stretch 4, although his rebounding is worse than Wilson's.

Wilson is maybe the most versatile because of his athleticism. He's also the best iso scorer of the three.

The good thing about this group is that they could ideally switch men on defense without skipping much of a beat. That would be very nice.

Positionless basketball in a nut shell.... look what we have going!!!!

 

[80shusky]

Is he a SG or SF? Have seen him listed as a SF, but have also seen talk of him being a guard. Only reason why I wonder is if he comes in as a SF, and Polley slots at the SF, then we may be able to slide Sid Wilson (6'6) to SG and no longer have the problem of only having 3 guards. The fact that we aren't actively recruiting another Guard (outside of Carey), but are still going after another SF and big leads me to believe that the staff may slot Wilson as a SG, and play Polley at the SF with another recruit coming in to play SF as well. Moving Polley from the PF to the SF would also open up space in the front court, which may explain why we are going after another big. Thoughts?

Verbal Commits lists him as a SG for what that is worth. 247 has him as a SF.

 

[Mr. French]

We're getting ahead of ourselves here, but in a lineup featuring Wilson, Polley, and Matthews, I think positionally you'd see:

2: Matthews
3: Wilson
4: Polley

Polley is taller than Wilson according to those team photos, is less of a ball handler, and has an excellent baseline/mid range jumper. He's the ideal stretch 4, although his rebounding is worse than Wilson's.

Wilson is maybe the most versatile because of his athleticism. He's also the best iso scorer of the three.

The good thing about this group is that they could ideally switch men on defense without skipping much of a beat. That would be very nice.

With Gilbert, Vital and Akinjo in the back court? I'm excited, I like the way the roster is taking shape potentially.

 

[mauconnfan]

I like his game a lot, and I'd love to get a tall lefty shooter to add to our guard play ... I don't know that he's got Kelly Oubre athleticism though ...

The good news is he doesnt have Oubre athleticism and it's also great news that you can see the similarities. Best news is he wouldn't leave after a year like Kelly.

 

[CAHUSKY]

My grandmother spent my entire freshman year of college thinking I was going to college in Alaska after I told her I was going to UConn

When I told my grandmother (who was born and raised in SF) that I was going to UConn in 1990, she asked me why in the world would I want to go to school in Alaska.

 

[Leebo]

When I told my grandmother (who was born and raised in SF) that I was going to UConn in 1990, she asked me why in the world would I want to go to school in Alaska.

The recurring theme seems to be that people are not only unaware of the University of Connecticut's nickname, but they don't know where the Yukon they've heard of is.

 

[Chief00]

Many people don’t remember or weren’t alive then, but Calhoun started out with tough and physical, won some games and then was able to attract shooters/scorers. He always said it made the game easier without of course losing the tough intensity that was his brand. Part of the Blaze discussions was getting shooters - last season was just too hard offensively, too often.

 

[SirHypeAlot]

First crystal ball this morning. Expecting more over the next couple days - in line with what I am hearing on going all in on Matthews to get the commit this weekend.

Staff landing solid 3 & 4 stars, returning to winning ways, then we land the whales class of '19, '20

 

[Mooch82]

First crystal ball this morning. Expecting more over the next couple days - in line with what I am hearing on going all in on Matthews to get the commit this weekend.

Staff landing solid 3 & 4 stars, returning to winning ways, then we land the whales class of '19, '20

We getting back to a decent conference in '19 or '20? Because I don't see us landing whales again until that happens...

 

[SirHypeAlot]

Returning to a national brand will alleviate some of the negative recruiting we are experiencing because of conference. Get to tourney in consecutive years, make runs and build off of that. Taking advantage of positive momentum will be a huge selling point. Being part of a movement something special is appealing. OOC scheduling big too. you put that piece of paper in front of recruits when they say they want P-5 schedule. Staff has new life and outlook in their efforts

 

[Chief00]

First crystal ball this morning. Expecting more over the next couple days - in line with what I am hearing on going all in on Matthews to get the commit this weekend.

Staff landing solid 3 & 4 stars, returning to winning ways, then we land the whales class of '19, '20

Agree that’s the strategy.

 

[Son of Robert]

Returning to a national brand will alleviate some of the negative recruiting we are experiencing because of conference. Get to tourney in consecutive years, make runs and build off of that. Taking advantage of positive momentum will be a huge selling point. Being part of a movement something special is appealing. OOC scheduling big too. you put that piece of paper in front of recruits when they say they want P-5 schedule. Staff has new life and outlook in their efforts

Terrific post sir. This train is rolling along, gathering steam. All the right moves being made. Great to see! Tough years come and go, but I never lost my faith in the continuing excellence of the Uconn basketball program. Bleed Blue.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Returning to a national brand will alleviate some of the negative recruiting we are experiencing because of conference. Get to tourney in consecutive years, make runs and build off of that. Taking advantage of positive momentum will be a huge selling point. Being part of a movement something special is appealing. OOC scheduling big too. you put that piece of paper in front of recruits when they say they want P-5 schedule. Staff has new life and outlook in their efforts

 

[uconngb]

Agree that’s the strategy.

Thank god you agree. We would be screwed if you didn't weigh in here, now we can all breathe easier.