The Ultimate Basketball Player
October 16, 2024 | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., - While making his rounds at SEC Media Day on Tuesday, Josh Hubbard was asked what the ultimate basketball player should look like.
His reply was simple: "Cameron Matthews"
Hubbard didn't offer the complimentary comment just because his Mississippi State teammate was in the same room to hear it. He legitimately meant it and it's certainly hard to argue with all the attributes Matthews possesses.
There's the obvious physical gifts the graduate forward was blessed with at 6-foot-7, 235-pounds coupled with a physique that could've been chiseled out of granite. But it's on the basketball court that his abilities shine the brightest.
Matthews is an absolute beast when driving to the rim and certainly isn't afraid to mix it up in the paint to get his hands on a rebound. He's also showcased his ballhandling skills by bringing the ball downcourt, setting up the Bulldogs' offense and is fully capable of guarding all five positions defensively.
The Olive Branch native posted career-highs last season averaging 9.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game while also earning a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team.
However, not everything Matthews contributes on the court shows up on the stat sheet. CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein listed him as one of his top 10 "Glue Guys" entering last season.
"That's kind of always been my thing, just doing whatever my team needs me to do to win a game," Matthews said.
Matthews isn't one to rest on his laurels either. When he decided to return to State for a fifth year following last season, he got back in the gym and began working to find new ways to improve and develop.
"I've tried to expand my game to at least make the defense honest," Matthews said. "I'm trying to get as many open looks for myself and my teammates too."
One of the biggest areas Matthews has worked on this offseason is his perimeter shooting. He shot just 2 of 23 behind the arc last year and is only an 18.9-percent 3-point shooter over the course of his career.
"The way that basketball is evolving, you've kind of got to make 3s now so that's been an emphasis for me," Matthews said.
Another aspect that head coach Chris Jans and the Bulldogs are counting on is Matthews' leadership. With eight newcomers and five other underclassmen on this year's roster, Matthews four seasons of experience at Mississippi State and playing in the Southeastern Conference are invaluable. Â
"Cam has been a been-there, done-that player and has been a core guy for us since we've arrived," Jans said.
Leadership is nothing new for Matthews. He was one of several veterans that helped guide MSU into back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances over the last two years.
Now in his final season of eligibility, the 22-year-old is tying to impart his wisdom down to the next wave of Bulldogs.
"It's definitely a bit different because last year I had some guys that had played enough games with me," Matthews said. "But now I'm kind of the lone guy that's played the most games. I'm trying to spread my experience to all the other guys and show them the ropes of how things go around here."
And if those seeds of Matthews' sage advice take root with this new roster, then it's a safe bet that Bulldog basketball will continue to flourish for many years to come.