Welcome to NYMPP 3. And although that sounds like a porn title, I can assure you it's not. So can Gonzaga point guard Matt Bouldin, who, after some serious detective work, attended one of the coolest-named high schools in the nation - Thunder Ridge High.
Located Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Principal Carole Jennings preaches their motto "Right place, Right time, Right thing" en route to a spot on Newsweek's list of top 1,500 public schools in the US. All of this was gained through Wikipedia. Judging by the list of clubs, I can only assume young Matthew chaired both the "Thunder Ridge High Everything Club" and the Color Guard, and did so admirably.
If that doesn't pique your interest, I don't know what will. You may be asking why I've jumped from Greivis Vasquez to Al-Farouq Aminu to Matt Bouldin. You may also be asking why I sleep with a trash can next to my bed at all times. But then again, you may not, so how am I supposed to know what goes through your minds.
To find out more ( or less) relevant things about Matty B, do that clicking thing over the jump.
Sinbad Memorial Skillset: What he does well is very evident. He's a 6'5 point guard that plays like a point guard. He's developed a nice little jumper during his time in the less cool part of the Dub state, knocking down shots both in the midrange and of the three point variety. He's not a twig either, weighing in around 225 with some tone that allows him to rebound reasonably well for a point guard and take his defender down low. Court vision and basketball IQ are what Bouldin brings to the table, but he's not too quick or athletic and can't defend much of anybody.
Upside: Ehhhhhnotsomuch. You hope (don't you?) that he develops a better post game a la Jason Kidd, Andre Miller or Chauncey Billups where he can make up for his quickness deficiencies by using his height advantage down low. You also hope that he keeps his shooting percentages up. If he does all these, he could become a solid backup point guard for a team with an early-mid second round pick - You're so smart.
Feelings of Former School: Via e-mail, I received this unexpectedly pessimistic note from Greg Talbott of the SBN Gonzaga Blog, Slipper Still Fits.
I was extremely excited to see how Matt would carry his team in 09-10, but it didn't turn out exactly as I'd hoped. His first half was unbelievable, but as soon as we passed winter break, he stopped taking control (the worst possible examples being the conference championship vs. St. Mary's and the 2nd-round game vs. Syracuse, in which he scored 4 points).
In my opinion, I don't think that Matt is going to be a long-term NBA guard. He's not physical enough for the WCC, let alone pro basketball. As much as it hurts me to say this about a fellow Zag, I think we'll see him in Europe in a few years.
Boom. Roasted.
Looks: Matty, Matty, Matty. By no exact coincidence, we've had some distinct looking bros in the NYMPP's so far, and this Colorado boy uses his "just got out of bed shag" like a pro. He looks a little bit like Deagol or Smeagol, I haven't decided which, but it works for him. A friendly face with long curly hair is what every GM looks for in the second round, right? I mean, that's why Chase Budinger got drafted isn't it?
Something in Common with TAFKAMB: This tweet.
Up Next: I haven't decided
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