12
Thursday, May 31, 2018
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTS
Charles Matthews announced
Wednesday afternoon he has
withdrawn
his
name
from
NBA Draft consideration and
will be returning to Michigan
for
another
season.
The
announcement
comes
mere
hours before the deadline for
early entrants to make a final
decision.
“After
much
prayer
and
discussions with my family
and the staff, I am excited
to be returning to Michigan
next year,” Matthews said,
via a statement released by
the program. “I learned a
lot throughout this process,
but my main focus will now
be completing my education
at Michigan and leading my
teammates to more success next
season.”
In his first season on the
court for Michigan, Matthews
averaged 13 points and 5.5
rebounds
per
game,
good
for second on the team in
both
categories.
His
year
was highlighted by a late-
season resurgence, including
scoring
in
double
figures
in
five
consecutive
NCAA
Tournament games and being
named the West Region’s Most
Outstanding Player on the way
to the Final Four.
He will still have two more
years of eligibility at Michigan
if
he
so
chooses,
having
transferred
after
only
one
season at Kentucky. He did not
receive an invitation to the NBA
combine this month and was
widely regarded as a late second
round pick at best in many mock
drafts.
Matthews took advantage of
the early draft entry this past
month, working out for NBA
teams and receiving feedback
on
areas
of
improvement.
Shooting seems likely to be atop
that list. Matthews became
a
capable
if
unspectacular
shooter
throughout
the
year. He attempted just four
3-pointers his freshman season
at Kentucky. This past season
he shot 107 threes, hitting at an
adequate 32 percent clip.
Though Matthews’ 3-point
shooting seems to be the most
glaring area for improvement
if he eventually seeks an NBA
career, it surely isn’t the only
one.
Michigan
coach
John
Beilein would frequently note
— often unprovoked — that
the staff charted his assist-
to-turnover ratio in practice
from the day he stepped on
campus. He said Matthews
started out with three times as
many turnovers as assists. Last
season, Matthews had 14 more
assists
(98)
than
turnovers
(84)— an unremarkable stat
by itself, but a clear sign of an
evolving player in context.
“Charles has an incredible
personality
and
confidence.
His work habits and desire to
reach his potential are terrific,”
Beilein said in a statement.
“He is more focused than ever
to improve in all areas of his
game.”
On a team losing three key
offensive contributors in Moritz
Wagner,
Muhammad-Ali
Abdur-Rahkman and Duncan
Robinson, Matthews will step
into a more prominent offensive
role where his growth on the
court will be vital.
Matthews will look to make
those
improvments
while
providing necessary leadership
on a team replete with talent,
but short on experience. Next
season, Matthews will be the
lone senior on scholarship —
though he will still maintain
a year of eligibility after next
year due to his redshirt season.
Added Beilein: “Like others
before him, Charles will be a
great senior leader for us and
we are excited to have this
opportunity to coach him again
next season.”
MAX MARCOVITCH
Daily Sports Editor
KATELYN MULCAHY / DAILY
DESIGN BY JACK SILBERMAN