Mathis Shines, Sparks Princeton Interest
This weekend Anthony Mathis Jr. camped twice, both with Penn and Princeton. “I did well,” said JR Mathis. “A lot of people didn’t shoot the ball well, which I do. I shot better at Penn’s camp. Both camps lacked shooters.…
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Continue ReadingThis weekend Anthony Mathis Jr. camped twice, both with Penn and Princeton.
“I did well,” said JR Mathis. “A lot of people didn’t shoot the ball well, which I do. I shot better at Penn’s camp. Both camps lacked shooters. I was coming off screens. I could catch and shoot. I was hitting my shot.”
Mathis is a college point guard, in size, demeanor, and skills. But, he will be one of the best shooters in that role nationally. Perhaps through adaptation, Mathis has learned to create his own shot and make his own shot while playing with Louisville Magic AAU.
That skill was showcased in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey all weekend long.
“I talked to a few assistants at Princeton and then the head coach,” said Mathis. “At the end of the camp I was telling them thanks. At Princeton…I wasn’t really on their radar coming into the camp. They said they are definitely interested. They will stay in contact with me. They are going to make it out to open gym or make it to one my games.”
Mathis truly opened a door where there was none. Brilliant. The purpose of camping is to open eyes and get results. Princeton spending time and money on the road evaluating Mathis is a big step towards his and his family’s dream.
“That is another thing that I take pride in,” said Mathis Jr. “My parents have sent me to a highly-academic school since first grade. They have been paying tuition for me and my sister since first grade. That is my way of paying them back. If I can go to an Ivy League school…”
Princeton is now considering Mathis an option. Of course it is competitive. Point guard is the most competitive position and D1 is the dream for all. Still, Mathis has an in now.
How was Penn’s camp?
“Penn, there were 27 different states represented and two provinces,” said Mathis Jr. “It was very diverse. I was surprised when he said that.”
Mathis was already in contact with Penn. They invited him specifically and he proved their instincts well with a glittering display of offense.
“Penn staff was on point,” said Mathis Jr. “They measured us. They measured height and weight. They had it put together.”
Though he initially intended to camp with Dartmouth this weekend, Mathis needed to skip home so his father could attend a vital meeting today.
“They are going to make it out to open gym definitely,” said Mathis Jr. of Dartmouth.
Ivy League possibilities still exist and actually after this weekend one is distinctly more realistic than before.
“The Ivy League really recruits differently,” said Mathis Jr. “They say basketball is not even 50% of what they recruit. There are so many different things. GPA, Academic Index, how you are you going to fit in. Does their team meet the standard?”
Mathis will train hard in preparation for his fall individual workouts for college scouts. Generally he takes late August off to heal his body from the year-long punishment. This year will be some resting, some training, and much planning.
A brilliant preparer, a smart man, Mathis Jr. is carving out his future. And it begins this weekend at the Naval Academy.
“This sounds kind of weird, but I want to see how military-ish it is,” said Mathis Jr. “I don’t know what to expect. Coming from the coaching staff they said, ‘Yeah, it is the Navy, but don’t think of it like the Navy.’ I am just eager to see what it is like.”
Mathis Jr. is an academic. He has a healthy skepticism and wants to see what Navy offers. They have literally offered and it was not really a viable option, until he and his father took a closer look.
Navy boasts a wonderful graduate placement program.
“I will be 27 making a $100,000 a year,” said Mathis Jr. of a hypothetical degree from Navy. “That is basically a 40-year decision. I am definitely set for life.”
Mathis Jr. is one of those rare athletes that will become successful regardless of whether he plays basketball or not. Basketball will be a conduit, but he doesn’t need it. He is not one of those, ‘I hope he can dunk, cause he doesn’t have anything else going for him.’
Mathis Jr. has a brain. He has drive. He has ambition.
He attends Kentucky Country Day.
“When I am with my Louisville Magic team, Chris Vogt and I are like the smart one’s per say,” said Mathis Jr. “When I am at KCD with my friends they are laughing and joking. To be cool I want to get A’s too. They are pushing me to be great.”
Greatness for him is unavoidable. He only needs a college to host the pursuit.
So, which shirt will the striving guard be wearing next fall?