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withdrawn 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

