The Basketball Interview….with Matt Cartwright
Recently signed Augustana shooter Matt Cartwright, the #1 ranked prospect in South Dakota’s 2017 class, talked with PHD today about O’Gorman hoops, his favorite parts of basketball, and of course Steph Curry.
At your school, what is your favorite part or parts about game days in terms of the routine leading up to the game?
“One of my favorite parts of game day routines is shooting for popsicles at the practice the day before. Another thing would be hanging out in the locker room before the game with my team.”
What makes your crowd unique? What is a memorable thing that they’ve done that you will always remember?
“Our crowd is always intense. No matter how little of a crowd may show up, they bring it all and they really get us going. The one thing I will always remember about our crowd is in the State Tournament last year when we played against Aberdeen Central and our fans got in a shouting match with their parents from across the Premier Center.”
Who is the toughest player you can recall playing against in South Dakota basketball and why?
“The toughest basketball player I remember playing against would be Sam Siganos. He is hard to guard off the dribble and if he isn’t scoring himself he’s making your defense get out of position and finding a wide open teammate.”
Who is your biggest rival and what about them makes the rivalry both heated and memorable?
“My biggest rival would have to be Lincoln only because our games are always down to the wire and before I made the transfer over to O’Gorman in 8th grade that was the school I had planned on attending.”
Who is your favorite basketball player in the world and why?
“Stephen Curry because he makes defenders look goofy and makes the game fun to watch. He plays it the way all of us imagined the game to be like as little kids; big moments and launching threes.”
What brand of gear or type of gear are you partial to?
“Im a big fan of Stephen Curry’s shoe from Under Armour because of the way they fit my feet. For clothes I am a fan of Nike dri-fit because it absorbs all my sweat.”
What is your favorite venue to play basketball in that you’ve played in?
“My favorite place to play at would be on our home floor because there is no better feeling than representing your school and being cheered on from a great home crowd like ours.”
What court that you haven’t played on would you dream of playing on?
“I would dream of playing on the New York Nicks court in Madison Square Garden because its such an amazing atmosphere and full of history.”
Explain the relationship varsity players have at your school with youth players?
“Our relationship to the younger kids in the program has always been incredible. They respect them and take them under their wing. As a freshman I was taken under their wing and taught what I needed to know in order to make it through high school basketball. We have something special that most schools can not claim to have.”
Best coaching advice you’ve received is what and who was it from?
“The best coaching advice I have received is to practice like you play. I was told this by my dad at a young age and it has always motivated me to never take a play off and practice at 110% each day so that when the game comes it almost is being played at an easier, slower pace.”
Who is your basketball influence?
“My basketball influence would have to be Stephen Curry. His story is one that will be told for a long time. Being an undersized guard he had to work for success. His famous quote “success is not an accident” is one that I live by.”