Matt Shrigley – Under the radar San Diego baller

Funny thing happened to La Costa Canyon’s Matt Shrigley on the way to his Senior season.  Viewed by most as a perimeter player (and a good one at that) scouts (and opponents) began noticing #40 was attacking/penetrating more frequently. Coming off a 1^st Team All-CIF Junior season and La Costa Canyon’s CIF Championship, the last thing opposing Coaches/players want to see is a more developed Matt Shrigley. Backed by the support of his teammates and parents (cites Mom as his biggest fan) his game continues to grow. Judging by his 37pt opening performance against Mira Mesa HS (San Diego, Ca.) this year’s version of Shrigley may prove too much for most San Diego high school bballers to handle.

Ranked #11 in the CaliHighSPorts.com Top 30, it should come as no surprise Matt had several college coaches knocking on his door. A Rivals 3* ranking and an overall grade off 88 (out of 100) by ESPN tends to grab some folks attention. What may surprise some, and possibly even Shrigley, is that given his talent, to some extent he’s flown a bit under the radar and appears underrated. Plenty of top tier High school ballers excel in an aspect of the game. Great shooter. Strong finisher. Consistent rebounder. Effective passer. Run through the (4) and (5) star recruits and you can normally apply two, and sometimes three, of the above attributes. A (3) star whom possesses all four…..now you have the “sleeper” type recruit around which sharp NCAA coaches build successful programs.

At 6’6 190lbs and possessing a quick/high shot release, Shrigley proves a difficult assignment for most 2’s, which projects to continue onto the next level. Put a 3 on him and Matt makes use of a nice first step and surprising quickness to take bigger foes to the hoop. Mix in the “hops” he’s starting to open eyes with and Matt proves an effective finisher capable of highlight-type footage. Although that first dunk against mighty Dieguno Middle School came on his 5^th attempt, the dunks have been flowing the last few years.  A consistent theme to Matt’s game is the smooth (almost effortless at times) approach he takes in lighting up the scoreboard. Shots rarely appear forced, and he sees the court well enough to keep teammates involved and scoring. He carries the top-end athleticism needed to play above the rim and compete with high level talent, and the basketball IQ to consistently stay a play or pass ahead of the game’s flow.

Time in a college weight room and conditioning program should add the bulk necessary to play through the more physical style of the next level. Matt’s frame appears ready to carry another 15-20lbs and I don’t see it negatively impacting his bounce or quickness. Finishing up his High school career this season I expect Shrigley to average 21-23 points and 9-10 rebounds a game. Those numbers will land him another 1^st team slot on the All-CIF team. If he dials it up another notch and La Costa Canyon has another strong season, don’t be surprised to see Shrigley walk away with the San Diego Section Player of the Year trophy.

At the college level Shrigley projects as a future All-Conference type player in the 16-18pt and 6-8 reb range. Citing offers from Oregon, St. Mary’s, Oregon St., Boston College, USD, USF, Colorado, Washington St., Arizona St, and Cal, Matt ultimately inked with Coach Steve Fisher and the San Diego State Aztecs. Matt based the decision on a desire to remain near family/friends and the strong relationship he’s developed over the past couple years with Coach Fisher. Expect Matt to thrive in Coach Fisher’s transition game which emphasizes athleticism and court awareness. Good things to come. Follow Matt Shrigley on Twitter : @matt40shrigley