Monsignor Martin League Player Spotlight Series: Matthew Carlson
Western New York is an underrated basketball hotspot chockful of promising, talented recruits. The 2019-2020 Monsignor Martin League (Buffalo NY) was highly competitive and produced many memorable moments for both teams and individuals alike. This series will focus on the…
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Continue ReadingWestern New York is an underrated basketball hotspot chockful of promising, talented recruits. The 2019-2020 Monsignor Martin League (Buffalo NY) was highly competitive and produced many memorable moments for both teams and individuals alike. This series will focus on the individual members of the 2020-2021 Nichols Vikings.
Matthew Carlson – G/F – Class of 2023
Carlson spent all but the last month of 2019-2020 on Junior Varsity. He played exceedingly well at that level- so much so, in fact, that he earned a call up to Varsity for the last 7 games of the year. Immediately, he brought a sense of calm, toughness, and basketball intelligence to the Vikings. He finished the season scoring 7 points per game and grabbing 2 rebounds a game.
Carlson’s best attribute, to me, is not something that actually shows up in the statsheet. I attended all 7 games Carlson suited up for in 2019-2020 and was thoroughly impressed that he just seems to always find himself in a positive position for his team. He is the type of player who is able to see the game before it unfolds; for example, while running down the court for a pass on a fast break, Carlson often spaced the floor so well that he attracted enough attention from the defense to make a pass happen easily to a different teammate. He does not allow himself to get sped up and excels at making decisions at his pace.
Carlson’s overall game will improve as he puts on strength and weight. Not unlike thousands of other 14-and 15 year-olds, Carlson clearly has room for his body to fill out. Often times in 2019-2020, he gave great effort on defense but was simply bowled-over by older, stronger opposing ballhandlers. My hope for Carson is that he spent the majority of this summer working out to put on “good” bulk.
I think that Carlson showed enough flashes of brilliance at the end of last year to have earned himself significant playing time in 2020-2021. He radiates quiet confidence that his other teammates absorb. Though he may not start over his two Senior backcourt teammates Hugh Purks Hugh Purks 5'10" | PG Nichols | 2021 State NY and Jesse Adamu Jesse Adamu 6'0" | PG Nichols | 2021 State NY , he could plug in as a small-ball “3” depending on certain matchups. If he comes off the bench, there is no doubt he would still be one of Nichols’ most dependable players. Carlson has a real chance to become a breakout performer in the 2020-2021 Monsignor Martin League.
**All Stats Come From Maxpreps.com. All Analysis Is My Own.