The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Matthews, Jr., Akinjo stand firm in commitments
Emmitt Matthews, Jr. was really feeling it. And this time, he wasn’t going to let his foot off the gas.
Matthews had scored 12 points in the first quarter of Wilson High’s playoff game against Central Kitsap on Thursday night in Tacoma, Washington. But he had prior games this season when he had 24 or 25 points by halftime, only to take his focus off scoring in the latter to get his teammates involved.
Not on this night, with numerous family and friends in town for what was the last home game of his high school career. Matthews kept it going and finished with a season-high 40 points to go with 13 rebounds in the Rams’ 83-57 victory.
“It was my last game at home, I wanted to go out with a bang,” Matthews said by phone on Sunday night. “My uncle with his family, my brother who lives in Seattle and goes to the University of Washington — they all came down. I wanted to do it here and now, while everybody was there.”
And, as Wilson coach Dave Alwert added: “It’s playoff basketball, and he’s a dog. He knows when to crank it up.”
Matthews kept it crankin’ two days later in the second round of the districts, pouring in 31 points and grabbing 21 rebounds against Kelso. Unfortunately for Matthews, it came in a loss, and Wilson now has to win a couple of loser’s bracket games to get to the finals.
Still, it was a nice display of the type of skills the sinewy, 6-foot-7 UConn signee will bring to Storrs next season.
“He’s a real gifted athlete,” said Alwert. “He’s 6-7, long, got a great vertical. He’s a gazelle.”
Alwert recalled a game over the summer when Matthews stole the ball around the free throw line with about two seconds left, took two dribbles and rolled in a George Gervinesque finger roll for the game-winner.
“He’s best when he’s on the attack, in transition,” the coach added. “That’s his home, that’s his baby. In halfcourt, he’ll be able to come off screens, and he’s got a nice little turnaround jumper. He can play all three levels — post-up game, midrange game and 3-point game.”
Indeed, Matthews, who was recently named 3A Pierce County All-League MVP, knocked down 7 of 11 3-pointers in that 40-point effort.
“He’s a streaky kid,” said Alwert. “If he hits his first couple, he catches fire.”
WEST COAST FLAVOR
About 800 miles down the Pacific Coast in Richmond, California, James Akinjo is having himself a nice senior season, as well. The 6-foot point guard, who committed to UConn back in September, has led Salesian High to a 25-1 record and the No. 9 ranking in the Pacific Region of USA Today’s Super Regional rankings. He is one of eight nominees for California’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
“I really like building confidence in my teammates,” Akinjo said. “In the playoffs, a lot of teams are gonna key on me, so I take great pride in making my teammates better.”
Akinjo and Matthews talk to each other on the phone a lot — about a lot of things.
“We just talk about bringing that West Coast style of basketball to the East Coast,” said Matthews, whose dad is from New Jersey and played football briefly at Rutgers before leaving school to join the Army. “We want to bring that West Coast flavor.”
Akinjo added that they talk about “being ready to work. Coming in as freshmen, nothing’s gonna be given to us. We don’t want it like that. We’re gonna come in and work hard.”
The two players, who form UConn’s incoming recruiting class along with 6-10 Lukas Kisunas of Brewster Academy, are also in regular contact with Kevin Ollie and the rest of the UConn coaching staff. Matthews has known associate head coach Raphael Chilliious, an assistant at the University of Washington for seven seasons, since he was about 12.
“(Ollie) and Chill are like family to me now,” Matthews said. “The whole coaching staff is one of the best staffs I’ve ever been around. I feel like I’d grow so much as a man and as a player.”
Akinjo was recruited by Ricky Moore and developed a close bond with Ollie, as well.
“Him being the head coach,” Akinjo noted, “I felt our relationship was most important.”
Matthews added he also talks with Kisunas, as well as frequently with current Husky Christian Vital — a friendship that started with some heated competition on NBA 2K during his official visit to Storrs in September.
“He loved it over there,” Alwert said. “The whole family did. “I know the big seller at UConn was Coach Calhoun, when they brought him in, talking to the family.”
Matthews shares similar traits with the Hall of Fame former Husky coach.
“Emmitt wants to win,” Alwert added. “He hates to lose more than he likes to win, and that’s what makes him a special kid. He wants to be successful, he wants to be an NBA prospect and make a living playing the game of basketball. He was really sold on Rip Hamilton, Ray Allen, some of those longer, bigger guards that he mimics his game after.”
‘IT’S IN MY MIND TO GO TO UCONN’
Of course, Matthews and Akinjo also see and hear a lot of things. They see that UConn is about to miss out on the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years and could be heading for a second straight sub.500 season. They hear all the other rumors associated with the program lately.
None of it seems to faze their dedication to UConn. Look no further than how both players refer to the program as “we.”
“We have a lot of transfers, it’s kind of hard to work with a lot of transfers,” Matthews said. “Next year, we’ll have a clean start, almost a reset of the culture, and get back to being a powerhouse.”
Added Akinjo: “We’ve got some really good players. Sid (Wilson) is coming back, Alterique (Gilbert), we’ve got good freshmen coming in. I think I can come in and help them right away. Not try to come in and be anyone else, just do what I do.”
Adversity is nothing new for Akinjo, who hails from the hardscrabble streets of Oakland.
“A lot of people are counting UConn out already,” he said. “My whole life I’ve been counted out.”
Akinjo noted that no one gave him and his Oakland Soldiers AAU team much of a shot at the Peach Jam this summer. Akinjo wound up leading the Soldiers to the tournament title while earning MVP honors.
“It’s kind of the same situation with UConn.”
Make no mistake, Matthews and Akinjo are aware of the NCAA’s inquiry into the program.
“We talked about the investigation,” said Alwert. “We’ve been told that nothing’s gonna happen on that. (Matthews) is a kid that’s faithful and loyal to the decision he makes.”
And the players also hear the rumors that Ollie’s job could be in jeopardy.
“I try not to think about that,” said Matthews. “It’s in my mind to go to UConn. If it does happen, it does happen, and that’s something my family would have to look at. But I love UConn, no matter who the coach is. Kevin Ollie is a legendary coach. I don’t even think about that. I don’t think I need to think about that at this time.”
Akinjo largely echoed those sentiments.
“I don’t think he will (get fired). I think the A.D. (David Benedict) and Coach Ollie have a really good relationship. When you have a tough year, everyone wants to count you out.
“When we come in next year,” James Akinjo added, “you won’t be hearing about Coach Ollie maybe getting fired.”