As Emmitt Matthews waited to be honored for senior night in his home state of Washington last season, one thing rolled through his mind —how different it would be in Morgantown.
“When I walked out on senior night, I blinked my eyes and I was like, man, what if I was in the [WVU] Coliseum right now?” Matthews said.
Matthews has given the WVU basketball program a lot since coming to Morgantown as a true freshman in 2018. Matthews won fans over at the end of the 2018-2019 season with a 28-point performance to help the Mountaineers take down eventual National runner-up Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament.
Matthews gave West Virginia another solid two seasons across 2019-2021, averaging 6.3 and 7.8 points per game, which helped the Mountaineers make the NCAA Tournament in 2021.
After the 2021 season, Matthews packed his bags and found a roster spot with his hometown team, the Washington Huskies.
Last season with the Huskies, Matthews put up 11.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Matthews explained the decision to head back home for a season.
“The COVID year (2020-2021) was really hard on me, just being so far from family,” Matthews said. “It was really hard for me mentally. You go home, you find yourself.”
After the one year back in Washington, Matthews knew where he wanted to be playing his last season of college basketball.
“At the end of the day, this is the best decision for me,” Matthews said. I know where I wanted to be. This was home to me for three years, and I wish I would’ve never left the first time.”
When entering the transfer portal for a second time, Matthews’ first and only call was to Bob Huggins, who welcomed him back with open arms.
“He [Huggins] has really stepped up for me and helped me in a lot of ways,” Matthews said. Me and his relationship is strong. If I need anything I can call him. I feel like a lot of people paint the narrative of when you transfer from a school, it’s always got to be a bad thing. More than half the time, I don’t think it’s really that.”
With Matthews and Huggins maintaining a strong relationship last season, it made the transition back to Morgantown very smooth for both Matthews and the team.
In his 10 games back for West Virginia, Matthews is averaging 10.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game and has stepped into the veteran leader role for the Mountaineers.
Matthews led by example and proved that by working on his jump shot in the offseason. The 6-foot-7 Matthews is shooting 47.4% from the field and 48.4% from three-point range, both being the best of his career.
“I got in the lab, as these young people say,” Matthews said after WVU’s 81-70 win over UAB. “It’s my fifth year of college. I feel like I’ve been around the world and back with basketball, now I feel like there’s not anything that’s going to get in the way of me playing my game.”
