While Utah basketball fans have been wondering how our final roster is going to fill out, especially which junior college players we’re going to sign, a late blooming high school player has quietly slipped onto our radar. His name is Matthew Donlan, a 6-6/6-7 wing from Melbourne, Austraila via Capital Christian High School in Sacramento, CA. Matt was MVP of his League and led Capital Christian to a league and section title. Matt agreed to answer a few questions over email so Utah fans could get to know him a little bit better.
Q. Tell everyone where you’re from and how long you’ve been in the United States.
A. Born in Melbourne Australia but have lived in California since I was 8.
Q. Australia has developed a nice basketball tradition, are you a particular fan of any Australian players?
A. Current player Patty Mills, former players Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal and John Rille who is Director of Operations at Boise State now.
Q. What other college or NBA players are you a fan of?
A. Festus Ezelli who played at Yuba City JC before he went to Vandy. Kobe of course. Brandon Jennings. When I was little I was a big Vince Carter fan.
Q. Do you try to model or consider your game to be like anyone?
A. A lot of people tell me I look like, and play like Gordon Hayward.
Q. On twitter you said you were still going to take some visits?
A. Do you know when those are going to happen? I’m at South Dakota State right now. I visit Utah next week on an unofficial and then I go to Stetson Fl. next week. I still have 2 official visits to take. I have already visited IUPUI
Q. Do you know when you might make a decision on where you’re going?
A. I want to make an informed decision about where to go next year so I think taking visits is important but its a catch 22 between taking visits and making a decision before an offer disappears. I’m looking for a school that offers me a great education as well as the opportunity to play basketball at a high level. I’ve worked hard in school and I believe that it is important to get a good education for life. Basketball is my passion and its pretty consuming but I need to balance it with a great education. I’ve already passed on schools that don’t have the academics I’m looking for, or don’t play in a great conference.
Q. I saw on your website you have very good grades, any idea what you want to major in
A. I will major in International Business. I hope to play in Europe and Australia after I graduate so I think it is important to have a portable degree. Plus International Business has been my whole life, my Dad has been all over the world for his job.
Q. Tell us anything else you’d like Utah fans to know about you.
A. In Australia a Ute is a pickup truck – I’d like to be a Ute and drive a Ute 🙂
If you want to know even more about Matt, you can visit his website here.
Finally here is an article on Matt’s rise this season in the Sacramento Bee.