Matthews released from LOI

UCONN MEN’S BASKETBALL

About six weeks ago, Emmitt Matthews, Jr. professed his love for UConn and seemed to indicate that he would be in Storrs next season — even if Kevin Ollie was no longer the head coach.

“It’s in my mind to go to UConn,” he told Hearst Media Connecticut. “If (Ollie gets fired) … that’s something my family would have to look at. But I love UConn, no matter who the coach is.”

On Wednesday, however, Matthews announced that he had been released from his national letter-of-intent by UConn and was back on the market. Ollie, of course, was fired on March 10. Raphael Chillious, Ollie’s associated head coach this past season, is not expected to be a part of new coach Dan Hurley’s staff.

“I had a good relationship with them, but it’s not the reason I de-committed,” Matthews said by phone on Wednesday. “There are a lot of reasons my family decided this was the best thing to do. I need to take my time and weigh my options.”

Matthews added that he hadn’t closed the door on returning to UConn, however, and that Hurley promised to still recruit him.

Matthews, a 6-foot-7, athletic shooter from Tacoma, Washington, has known Chillious since he was in middle school, when Chillious was an assistant at the University of Washington. He also became tight with Ollie during the recruiting process, calling him a “legendary coach.”

In a message on Twitter early Wednesday, Matthews said: “After long discussions with my family over the past days, it is in my best interest to decommit from UConn and explore other options.”

He went on to thank

Ollie, who was fired on March 10, and Chillious, as well as the school for granting him his release.

“I am NOT closing the door on UConn basketball,” he added, “and I wish nothing but the best for Coach

Hurley and the new staff moving forward.”

According to Dave Alwert, Matthews’ head coach at Tacoma’s Wilson High: “He was real disappointed not having Coach Chillious and K.O. to be there at UConn. I think it was more of being recruited to the coaches than the school.”

Matthews had asked for

his release a few days ago and got the release on Wednesday morning.

Matthews is the second UConn recruit to get a release from his LOI. Fourstar point guard James Akinjo was also released shortly after Ollie was fired. Like Matthews, he said he hasn’t closed the door on UConn, but has recently had home visits from Georgetown, Arizona and Wichita State.

Hurley was slated to see UConn’s third current incoming recruit, 6-10 forward Lukas Kisunas of Brewster Academy, on Wednesday.