SoCalHoops  Recruiting News

Yreka's Matt Short Signs
With Oregon Ducks--(Nov. 9, 2000)

More signing news:   Strictly speaking, it's not a SoCal school (well, there's no way Oregon is even remotely close to Southern California except that it's connected to the same land mass), and no, the player isn't from SoCal either, but he might as well be because we've seen him enough at events at Cal State Dominguez Hills.  Oregon has received a signed letter from our favorite oxymoron (and no, we don't mean to impugn his intelligence either). . . Matt Short (6'-11" Sr. C) from Yreka--who is anything but "short" has signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Oregon.  Here's the official press release:

6-11 Matt Short Signs With Men's Basketball

Nov. 8, 2000

EUGENE -- Oregon men's basketball head coach Ernie Kent announced that Matt Short has signed a national letter of intent to play for the Ducks next season. Short is a 6-11, 220-lbs., senior at Yreka, High School in Yreka, Calif. 

Short averaged 13.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game as a junior and blocked 59 shots en route to garnering all-NAL honors. He set a school record for blocks as a sophomore. Short has been at the center of a basketball resurgence for Yreka coach Mike Carpine. After winning just two games in 1998-99, Yreka went 11-13 last season, an improvement of nine games. This year, Short leads a senior-laden team into action as one of the league favorites. 

"We recruited Matt because of his ability to play two positions," Kent said. "He can stay low at center and block some shots or he can step out on the perimeter. He has good ball-handling skills for a big man. He plays like a seven-footer. Some guys that size don't play big, but Matt has long arms and a long body; he plays long. But we also recruited Matt because he is an excellent young man who we feel is a good addition to our program and has a lot of growth potential." 

Kent wasn't the only one noticing Short, the youngest of Greg and Pam Short's three children. Tracey Pierson of PacWest Hoops said Short, "moved all the way up from No. 8 to No. 5 (centers on the West Coast). Although still raw offensively, Matt's energy and athleticism make him a potential big-time player."  

"Short is one of our favorite players, merely because of the effort he puts on the floor whenever he's out there," Pierson said. "He plays his butt off, and it's evident he's worked hard on his game because he's improved drastically." 

Short, who is considering a major in floriculture, will help offset the losses of senior big men Bryan Bracey, Flo Hartenstein and Julius Hicks, who will graduate in the spring. 

He chose Oregon over Arizona State, Washington State and New Mexico.

 
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