N.Y.’s Mr. Basketball rooting hard for Irish
MATT RYAN was getting ready to get X-rays done on his hips last Thursday, about a year after having surgery on both of them, when he found out via Twitter that he had been selected Mr. Basketball for New York State.
“It was definitely one of the most exciting moments of my life,” said Ryan, a senior forward at Iona Prep in New Rochelle. “I was with my mother and we were both really excited. It was a great award to get, and I'm really excited I got it.”
The last few weeks of March have been nothing but exciting for Ryan. In addition to winning the Mr. Basketball award, Ryan has watched his future team — Notre Dame — advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament by winning its first two games by a total of seven points. He said he already felt an emotional attachment to his future teammates.
When he watched Notre Dame beat Butler last Saturday, Ryan yelled out players’ names toward the television as his high school friends sat nearby, watching objectively. “I'm 100% emotionally attached,” Ryan said. “Everybody was watching as fans, and I was watching sort (of) as a member of the team. I’ve been out there twice and I know those guys personally and I want to see them succeed.”
A year ago, Ryan was diagnosed with hip impingement on both sides, which required surgery to repair two torn labrums.
This March didn’t get off to the best start from a basketball standpoint. His high school team lost to Xaverian in the semifinals of the CHSAA playoffs, putting an end to Ryan’s hope of winning a city title before he heads to South Bend. Despite winning the Mr. Basketball honor, which had previously been given to such players as Kenny Anderson, Jamal Mashburn, Stephon Marbury, Felipe Lopez and Elton Brand, Ryan doesn’t feel like he had his best season. He said having double hip surgery in March 2014 limited him physically. But he still averaged 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Gaels.
His season over, Ryan is taking it easy for a while, working on his shooting to stay sharp but going easy on his hips.
He will also be back in front of a television on Thursday to watch Notre Dame play Wichita State — maybe. He had previously volunteered to attend a school-related event on Thursday evening, which he’s required to do to reach 35 service hours before he graduates.
“So I may have to watch the game on my phone,” he said.
If the Fighting Irish beat Wichita State, it would set up a likely meeting with undefeated Kentucky.