By ADAM ZAGORIA
Emmitt Matthews Jr., the 6-foot-7, 185-pound small forward from Wilson (WA) High School who de-committed from UConn in March, signed a grant-in-aid for the 2018-19 year at West Virginia.
After decommitting from UConn after the school named Dan Hurley head coach, he also considered Oklahoma, Washington and Oregon State.
“It is the perfect situation for me,” he told Rivals.com. “They believe in me which is the greatest value, “With Teddy [Allen] leaving, I have the chance to start on the wing the day that I get onto campus and they want to get out into transition more.”
This past season, he averaged 22.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks per game and led his team deep into the state playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Matthews was The News Tribune’s 2017-18 All-Area Player of the Year. Late in the season, he had 40 points and 13 rebounds against Central Kitsap and 31 points, 21 rebounds and four blocks against Kelso.
He earned the 3A Pierce County league MVP and the 3A senior state player of the year from the state coaches’ association. Matthews finished his career with 1,614 career points and 744 rebounds. He ended as Woodrow Wilson’s all-time winningest player with 80 victories.
“Obviously, Emmitt brings added athleticism and shot-making ability to the perimeter,” West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said. “He’s also big enough and athletic enough to be a very effective rebounder at both ends of the floor. With his athleticism, he should fit perfectly into Press Virginia.”
As a junior, Matthews averaged 24 points and 10 rebounds per game and led his team to the 3A state tournament. He was named to The News Tribune’s All-Area Team.
According to 247Sports, Matthews is ranked as the No. 163 overall player in the Class of 2018 and the No. 3 player from the state of Washington.
He is part of a six-man class at West Virginia that includes point guard Jordan McCabe, shooting guard Trey Doomes, power forward Derek Culver and junior college transfers Jermaine Haley and Andrew Gordon.
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