Byington’s recruiting class coming together
June 3, 2013
The Georgia Southern University men’s basketball team will have some international flavor next season thanks to the addition of transfer forward Angel Matias of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
First year Head Coach Mark Byington was able to land the 6-foot 4-inch small forward from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College even though the signing process has been well under way.
“We are fortunate to be able to recruit a player of Angel’s caliber this late in the signing period,” Byington said in a news release. “He was heavily recruited until a foot injury set him back, but he is 100% healthy now. I expect Angel to make a major impact for our team this year at the small forward position and he gives us a perimeter player with good size. He will give us toughness, an ability to score, a good rebounder, and someone who knows how to win. I was very impressed with Angel’s maturity and focus on success.”
Matias averaged 17.5 points per game last season, but an injury cut his sophomore campaign short and had him watching from the bench for the final weeks of the season.
Matias played his high school ball at Arlington Country Day School, a well-known school in Jacksonville Mississippi. Matias also competed as a member of the Puerto Rican U-18 National Team in 2010.
The addition of Matias to the Eagle squad rounds out the 2013-14 roster, which includes five newcomers: Kyle Doyle (Hephzibah, Ga.), Torlorf Thomas (Meridian, Miss.), Curtis Diamond (Lithonia, Ga./Tallahassee Community Coll.) and Trent Wiedeman (Suwanee, Ga./Coll. of Charleston).