Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 24, 1995 TAG: 9504250058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``My goal since I was in the ninth grade was to play Division I basketball,'' Matheny said Sunday night. ``This [signing] is probably the highlight of my career.''
Matheny, a 6-foot-4 swingman, received Division II scholarship offers from such programs as Longwood and Wingate and had heard from such Division I programs as William and Mary, Air Force and The Citadel.
``The Citadel is supposed to call me tomorrow,'' Matheny said, ``but this is where I've been leaning for the last month or so. There's been a lot of pressure, with somebody asking me almost every day, `Where are you going?'
``VMI has been the most solid in its recruiting. At first, they offered me a three-year scholarship because they were out [of grants] for next year, but then somebody left and they made a four-year commitment.''
Matheny averaged 19.2 points as a senior, when he was named first-team All-Roanoke Valley District and second-team All-Timesland, both for the second year in a row.
``He didn't get a lot of exposure because Cave Spring hasn't been a traditional winner,'' said Chris Carr, the Knights' first-year coach, ``but to me, he's a valid Division I candidate.
``I think there are more than a few schools in the Big South or the Mid-America Conference or the OVC [Ohio Valley Conference] that he could have gone in and played for.''
Carr reported that another of his seniors, 6-4 John Finnerty, will play for Bridgewater. Finnerty played center for the Knights, but is projected as a small forward for the Eagles.
Matheny played small forward for the Knights, but shot close to 40 percent on 3-pointers and has the ball-handling skills that will enable him to play on the perimeter in college.
``At 6-4, I had pretty good size for high school, so they needed me some inside,'' Matheny said. ``It shouldn't be that much of an adjustment; besides, they told me I might be playing a little three [small forward].''
Matheny stayed on the post during his recent visit to VMI and said he has been heartened by the number of Keydet alumni - some of them strangers - who have expressed interest in his choice.
``They've told me not to take anything personally,'' said Matheny of the military lifestyle. ``I think I know what I'm getting into; basically, I'm going to try not to make any waves.''
Except when he's playing.
by CNB