Hoops: Kentucky Transfer Charles Matthews Picks Michigan
Kentucky transfer and former Chicago St. Rita class of 2015 four-star Charles Matthews is Michigan bound. Matthews visited U-M two weekends ago and Xavier this weekend before making his decision.
TheWolverine.com has confirmed Goodman's report.
Rivals.com’s former No. 48 prospect nationally in the 2015 class saw action in all 36 games for the Wildcats last year and made three starts, including the season opener. He averaged 1.7 points and 1.6 rebounds per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the floor.
“Matthews is recovering from a recent medical procedure for a hip issue, but [Kentucky head coach John] Calipari said last week that he expected him to be fine and looked forward to him contributing more next season,” the Chicago Tribune reported. “He says in a release Wednesday that he was saddened to see him leave but supports his decision.
Matthews says he gained great experience at Kentucky and thanked Calipari and teammates but added, “I felt like it was in my best interest to explore other options.”
“The hardest thing as a coach is to lose a player that you really want to coach,” Calipari said in a statement. “In Charles’ case, I believe he is going to be a productive college player who has the ability to play at the next level. I know Charles’ best basketball is ahead of him, and while I’m a saddened to see him go, I support his decision and will help in any way I can.”
Matthews will join Milwaukee guard Jordan Poole (6-3, Rivals.com's No. 95 rising senior) as a member of the 2017 class, though he'll have to sit out the 2016 season before joining the team.
The scholarship chart as it stands now:
2016-17
1: Derrick Walton Jr., 6-1 Sr. PG
2: Zak Irvin, 6-6 Sr. SF
3: Mark Donnal, 6-9 Sr. PF
4: Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, 6-4 Jr. SG
5: Duncan Robinson, 6-8 Jr.* SG
6: D.J. Wilson, 6-9 So.* PF
7: Moritz Wagner, 6-9 So. PF
8:Jon Teske, 6-11 Fr. C
9: Austin Davis, 6-10 Fr. C
10: Ibi Watson, 6-5 Fr. SG
11: Xavier Simpson, 5-11 Fr. PG
12: Open
13: Open
2017-18
1: Mark Donnal, 6-9 Sr.-5th PF (Possible)
2: Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, 6-4 Sr. SG
3: Duncan Robinson, 6-8 Sr.-5th SG
4: D.J. Wilson, 6-9 Jr.* PF
5: Moritz Wagner, 6-9 Jr. PF
6. Charles Matthews, 6-7 So.* SF
7: Jon Teske, 6-11 So. C
8: Ibi Watson, 6-5 So. SG
9: Xavier Simpson, 5-11 So. PG
10: Austin Davis, 6-10 So. C
11: Jordan Poole, 6-3 Fr. SG
12: Open
13: Open
2018-19
1: D.J. Wilson, 6-9 Sr.-5th PF
2: Moritz Wagner, 6-9 Sr. PF
3. Charles Matthews, 6-7 Jr.* SF
4: Jon Teske, 6-11 Jr. C
5: Ibi Watson, 6-5 Jr. SG
6: Xavier Simpson, 5-11 Jr. PG
7: Austin Davis, 6-10 Jr. C
8: Jordan Poole, 6-3 So. SG
9: Open
10: Open
11: Open
12: Open
13: Open
* Redshirt