New HOOPS Recruit

[Brad]

From the USF SID Office

News Release

USF adds McHugh Mattis to basketball recruiting class

TAMPA, Fla. (Tuesday, Nov. 16) - McHugh Mattis, one of the top junior college players in Florida, has signed a national letter-of-intent to play basketball at the University of South Florida.

“McHugh may well be the most athletic player on our team during the 2005-06 season,” said USF coach Robert McCullum.  “He is very versatile in that he is comfortable anywhere in the backcourt playing either of the three positions.”

Mattis, a 6-6, 185-pound guard/forward, is a sophomore at St. Petersburg College.  “We like his size,” said McCullum.  “He is somewhere between 6-5 and 6-6, he is long and athletic and he is a very explosive player who puts the ball on the floor well.  

He averaged 13 points and five rebounds as a freshman in addition to leading the state with 101 blocked shots.  Mattis was named second-team All-Suncoast Conference.  A native of North Lauderdale, Fla., Mattis was an honorable mention Class 6A selection at Coconut Creek High School.

McCullum feels like Mattis will be a key to USF’s success when it begins competing in the Big East Conference in 2005-06.

“As we prepare for Big East play we feel we need to recruit bigger backcourt players, bigger wing players,” said McCullum.  “He certainly fits the mold of a longer, athletic wing player that will enable us to be able to compete with that caliber of player that most of the BIg East teams currently have.  He will bring the experience of having played two years of college basketball into our program and as he gets stronger he will have an outstanding career at USF and in the Big East because of his athleticism and his versatility.”

Mattis joins a fall signing class that includes Zaronn Cann, a forward from Brandon High School in Brandon, Fla., and Chris Howard, a guard who played last season at Friendly High School in Fort Washington, Md.

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[smazza]

sounds impressive

[beastiebull]

6-6 185?  Sounds like a shorter Gerrick Morris.

[Velcro]

that is lanky, considering Cann is the same height but is 240 lbs.

[Bullpride08]

6-6 185?  Sounds like a shorter Gerrick Morris.

NOOOOO, Gerrick MOrris was 6-10 185....A BIGGGGG DIFFERREENNNCEEE, enormous difference.

We don't want a bunch of bulky wing players.  We might want them to one day beat someone off the dribble.  The presumption is Cann might be moved to 4, he's a full 6-6 (and still growing some say), and once he gets to playing everyday again he'll probably drop down to the 220lbs range.  

[The_Reaper]

The future builds!!!! ;D

[dabull80]

Sounds like the same type player Seth always recruited

[Markeymark]

Actually, I'm more concerned whether they have a good head on their shoulders than whether they're 10-20 lbs different from what the last coach recruited.

[Bullpride08]

Actually, I'm more concerned whether they have a good head on their shoulders than whether they're 10-20 lbs different from what the last coach recruited.

...that plus some decent shooting, and particularly free throw shooting.   It makes all the difference in the world.

[beastiebull]

Wasn't Gerrick 6'10 and like 210 lbs?