Edmonton Guard Chooses V-Reds
Jaden Matthews signs U SPORTS Letter of Intent
(FREDERICTON, NB) Jaden Matthews says he wants to follow in Javon Masters’ footsteps.
That’s not a bad long-term goal for the incoming Varsity Red.
The Edmonton native has signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the Varsity Reds men’s basketball team, beginning in the 2018-19 season.
“My short-term goal is to win rookie of the year and take in as much knowledge as I can as a first-year player,” said Matthews. “Long-term, I want to follow Javon Masters and have my name on UNB’s All-Canadian wall.”
Masters recently completed his fifth year of eligibility, leaving the Varsity Reds as the country’s all-time leading scorer, a three-time 1st Team All-Canadian and three-time Atlantic University Sport MVP.
Matthews, a 6’1” point guard, joins the Varsity Reds with an impressive resume.
He was a senior member of the team at Edmonton’s Archbishop O’Leary High School, and helped Team Alberta to a silver medal at the 2017 Canada Summer Games.
Matthews was a three-year member of the Team Alberta program, at the U15, U16 and U17 levels.
He teamed with current Varsity Red Ogot Ogot to help the O’Leary Spartans win an Edmonton city high school championship in 2016, as well as the prestigious Bedford Road Invitational Tournament, in Saskatchewan.
Matthews once scored 71 points, including eleven 3 point shots, in one high school game.
“Jaden is a versatile defender with length and quickness at the guard position,” said Varsity Reds interim head coach Matt Daley. “He pushes the ball and sees the floor at a high level. He has the ability to break down defenders and hit the three-point shot. His work ethic and energy will be a good addition to our culture.”
“I love to push the ball and play a lot of transition,” said Matthews. “I’ll bring leadership and positivity.”
Matthews’ connections to UNB go beyond having played with Ogot previously.
His cousin(once-removed) is former Varsity Reds soccer standout Marcus Lees.
Matthews plans on pursuing an Arts degree before enrolling in Law School.