matt jameson update

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

How Tough Can The Recruiting Process Be?
Just Ask Matt Jameson.--(April 30, 1999)

Last Saturday's edition of the Daily Pilot (4/24/99), featured a small preview article of the Orange County All-Star Game, which was played last Saturday night at Orange Coast College, and the focus of the piece was on Matt Jameson (6'-1" Sr. PG) from Newport Harbor High, whose recruiting is, well, at the moment, it seems to be stalled. We're not sure how we missed this one at the time, but we did and thought it was still worth sharing that portion of the article related to Matt's recruiting experience. We're not sure that there are really any lessons in this one, but it's interesting to hear about one young man's recruiting, and the levels of frustration that go along with it; seems that just being a good high school player isn't enough these days.

In any event, we've cut out the portions of the story related to other players and to last week's game, and are presenting only the relevant portions of the article relating to Matt Jameson's recruiting experiences. Maybe some college coach out there will give him a call, because a guy like this can clearly help a program out somewhere as a scholarship player.

The Waiting Game:
Newport Harbor's Matt Jameson,
Still Without a Collegiate Home.
By Barry Faulkner
Daily Pilot 4/24/99

If Division I college basketball had a televised draft, Newport Harbor High senior Matt Jameson wouldn't be asked to throw on a suit and tie and take a seat in the green room. But, after a 100-game varsity career that included 1,301 points, 61 victories, and All-CIF Southern Section recognition, a late-round phone call would not be an unrealistic expectation. As graduation looms, however, and classmates have long since finalized collegiate plans, Jameson is still waiting by the phone. "I think a lot of colleges out there are missing the boat," said Laguna Beach High Coach Bret Fleming, who will hand Jameson, as well as fellow Rebel point guard Tony Dow (Ocean View), the keys to his stylish South squad, when the Orange County All-Star boys basketball game tips off at 8 Saturday night at Orange Coast College. [Jameson scored 13 points in the South's 88-82 win in the game].

"Matt does an awful lot of things well, makes very few mistakes, is solid defensively, and always plays hard. He's an outstanding point guard." The Newport-Mesa District Player of the Year has also impressed Fleming with his ability to flourish in the free-wheeling transition style which typifies most all-star contests. "I think the amount of things he's capable of doing has surprised me," Fleming said. "From the times I'd seen him play at Newport, I knew he was solid fundamentally, but I thought of him as more of a basic player, offensively. But he's been able to create his own shot, go by a defender, as well as draw the defense and dish in our practices." Newport Harbor Coach Larry Hirst, Jameson's biggest booster since he summoned the then-smallish point guard to his varsity squad midway through his freshman season, cautions not to expect an MVP performance out of Jameson in the all-star setting. "Generally, it's a shooter's game," Hirst said of the spring showcase, sponsored by the Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club. "There weren't a lot of times Matt went one-on-one for 94 feet. For us, a point guard's job is to control the tempo, distribute, and take the offensive opportunity when it comes." Jameson so embraced the selfless aspects of the position, Hirst often had to encourage him to shoot more. The 6-foot-1 playmaker, strengthened by a relentless commitment to weight training, averaged 16.2 points, 6.6 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 steals, while shooting 49% from the field, 79% from the foul line and 41% from three-point range. He also was a defensive anchor in helping the Tars tie a school single-season record with 24 wins. The Sailors were eliminated in the CIF Division II-AA quarterfinals.

Jameson, whose desire to enjoy a collegiate experience in the eastern half of the country further limited his recruitment, was hoping to be a Columbia Lion until things fell through recently. He lists Princeton (for volleyball and/or basketball), as well as some Division III schools in the East as possibilities, and has also been invited to walk on at Tulane, where he has already earned admission. He admits the lack of suitors has been disappointing. "The last couple of weeks have definitely been frustrating," he said. "Maybe I got my hopes up a little too much, but I know I can play on (the Division I) level. It's hard, because most of my friends know where they're going and I wish I could tell them where I was going. But I sat down and talked with my parents and they told me something would work out. I just have to sit back and wait." Said Hirst, "Unfortunately for Matt, he's a point guard, because there are so many point guards out there. And most universities recruit a point guard from within their area, so East Coast schools are looking at Philly, Atlanta or places like that. Columbia signed a point guard from Detriot."