E. C. Matthews
{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1995)}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = E. C. Matthews
| image = File:E.C. Matthews.jpg
| caption = Matthews in December 2016
| position = Shooting guard
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 200
| league = Super League Basketball
| team = Sheffield Sharks
| number = 7
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|10|3}}
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan
| nationality = American
| high_school = Romulus
(Romulus, Michigan)
| college = Rhode Island (2013–2018)
| draft_year = 2018
| career_start = 2018
| years1 = 2018–2019
| team1 = Kouvot
| years2 = 2019–2020
| team2 = Erie BayHawks
| years3 = 2020
| team3 = Raptors 905
| years4 = 2020–2021
| team4 = Oliveirense
| years5 = 2021–2022
| team5 = Grindavík
| years6 = 2022
| team6 = Petro de Luanda
| years7 = 2022–2023
| team7 = KR
| highlights = *SLB Cup Winner (2025)
- Second-team All-Atlantic 10 (2015)
| team8 = Baskonia B
| years8 = 2023
| team9 = BK Olomoucko
| years9 = 2023
| team10 = KK Feniks 2010 Skopje
| years10 = 2023-24
| team11 = Soles
| years11 = 2024
| team12 = Sheffield Sharks
| years12 = 2024-present
}}
Elbert Clark Matthews (born October 3, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who plays for Sheffield Sharks of the Super League Basketball (SLB). He played college basketball for the Rhode Island Rams where he was a Second-team All-Atlantic 10 in 2015.
High school career
He was born in Detroit, Michigan and attended Romulus High School where he played for head coach Nate Oats. As a senior, Matthews averaged 17.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game and led Romulus to a state title. He was a 4 star recruit who committed to Rhode Island.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/bios/matthews_e.c._6l5p|title=E.C. Matthews|website=Rhode Island|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-date=April 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415062637/http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2017-18/bios/matthews_e.c._6l5p|url-status=dead}}
College career
As a freshman, Matthews averaged 14.3 points per game and was named A-10 rookie of the year. He increased his points production to 16.9 per game as a sophomore and led Rhode Island to the NIT.{{cite news|last1=Gardner|first1=David|title=Reclaiming a lost season: E.C. Matthews returns to lead Rhode Island|url=https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/11/10/ec-matthews-rhode-island-rams-atlantic-10-acl-recovery|accessdate=April 3, 2018|work=Sports Illustrated|date=November 10, 2016}} He was named to the Second Team All-Atlantic 10.{{cite news |last1=Pereles |first1=Zach |title=E.C. Matthews on Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley: 'I know we're not the same color, but he's definitely my father' |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/rhode-island-coach-dan-hurley-star-e-c-matthews-share-emotional-moment-leaving-court-know-not-color-hes-definitely-father-232454467.html |accessdate=January 9, 2020 |work=Yahoo Sports |date=March 17, 2018}} In his junior season, he suffered a season-ending injury to his right knee in the first game. He credits the injury for teaching him how to live in the moment.{{cite news|last1=Reynolds|first1=Bill|title=E.C. Matthews has learned many lessons along the way|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20180310/bill-reynolds-ec-matthews-has-learned-many-lessons-along-way|accessdate=April 3, 2018|work=Providence Journal|date=March 10, 2018}}
As a redshirt junior, he was named to the Third Team All-Atlantic 10.{{cite news|title=Cline Named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Miller Voted as Coach of the Year |url=http://www.atlantic10.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31600&ATCLID=211515812 |accessdate=March 7, 2017 |date=March 7, 2017 |author=Atlantic 10 Conference}} Matthews averaged 14.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and was Most Outstanding Player of the A-10 tournament after leading Rhode Island to a title. In November 2017, he fractured his wrist and missed several games.{{cite news|title=URI's Matthews out 4-6 weeks with fractured wrist|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20171114/uris-matthews-out-4-6-weeks-with-fractured-wrist|accessdate=April 4, 2018|work=Providence Journal|date=November 14, 2017}} He repeated on the Third Team All-Atlantic 10 as a senior.{{Cite news|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31600&ATCLID=211704410|title=Aldridge, Adams Named Atlantic 10 Co-Players of the Year, Rhode Island's Hurley Voted as Coach of the Year|work=Atlantic10.com|access-date=2018-03-15}} He led the Rams to an NCAA Tournament appearance and averaged 13.1 points per game.{{cite news|title=Oklahoma vs. Rhode Island odds: 2018 NCAA Tournament picks from Vegas legend on 16-8 roll|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/oklahoma-vs-rhode-island-odds-2018-ncaa-tournament-picks-from-vegas-legend-on-16-8-roll/|accessdate=April 4, 2018|work=CBS Sports|date=March 14, 2018}} Matthews scored 23 points in his season-ending loss to Duke in the NCAA Tournament.
Professional career
Matthews signed his first professional contract with Kouvot of the Korisliiga.{{cite web |title=E.C. Matthews signs with Kouvot Kouvola |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/europe/finland/288778/ec-matthews-signs-with-kouvot-kouvola.html |website=Sportando |accessdate=September 17, 2018 |archive-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917181749/https://sportando.basketball/en/europe/finland/288778/ec-matthews-signs-with-kouvot-kouvola.html |url-status=dead }} On October 26, 2019, Matthews was selected 16th overall by the Erie BayHawks in the 2019 NBA G League Draft. He was the only BayHawks draftee to make the team.{{cite news |last1=Reilly |first1=Josh |title='Hawks set to take flight |url=https://www.goerie.com/sports/20191107/hawks-set-to-take-flight |accessdate=December 2, 2019 |work=Erie Times-News |date=November 7, 2019}} Matthews averaged 3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and one assist per game in 15 games. He was waived on January 2, 2020.{{cite news |title=E.C. Matthews: Waived by BayHawks |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/e-c-matthews-waived-by-bayhawks/ |accessdate=January 9, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=January 2, 2020}} On January 6, 2020, Matthews signed with the Raptors 905.{{cite news |title=E.C. Matthews: Joins Raptors 905 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/e-c-matthews-joins-raptors-905/ |accessdate=January 9, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=January 7, 2020}} He was waived on January 16 after appearing in two games.{{cite news |title=E.C. Matthews: Waived by Raptors 905 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/e-c-matthews-waived-by-raptors-905/ |accessdate=January 19, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=January 16, 2020}}
On June 18, 2020, Matthews signed with Oliveirense of the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB).{{cite web |title=E.C. Matthews signs at Oliveirense |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Portugal/news/631558/E.C.-Matthews-signs-at-Oliveirense |publisher=Eurobasket.com |accessdate=June 18, 2020 |date=June 18, 2020}}
In October 2021, Matthews signed with Grindavík of the Úrvalsdeild karla.{{cite news |author1=Davíð Eldur |title=Elbert Clark Matthews til Grindavíkur |url=https://www.karfan.is/2021/10/elbert-clark-matthews-til-grindavikur/ |access-date=29 October 2021 |work=Karfan.is |date=29 October 2021 |language=Icelandic}}{{cite news |author1=Hjörtur Leó Guðjónsson |title=Körfuboltakvöld um EC Matthews: "Þessi gæi er hæfileikabúnt" |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20222216643d/korfuboltakvold-um-ec-matthews-thessi-gaei-er-haefileikabunt- |access-date=1 February 2022 |work=Vísir.is |date=1 February 2022 |language=Icelandic}} On 25 March 2022, Matthews scored a game winning three pointer at the buzzer against Stjarnan.{{cite news |author1=Smári Jökull Jónsson |title=Umfjöllun og viðtöl: Grindavík-ÍR 89-86 - Sjáðu flautuþrist EC Matthews sem tryggði Grindavík sætan sigur |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20222239981d/um-fjollun-og-vid-tol-grinda-vik-ir-89-86-sjadu-flautu-thrist-ec-matt-hews-sem-tryggdi-grinda-vik-saetan-sigur |access-date=26 March 2022 |work=Vísir.is |date=25 March 2022 |language=Icelandic}}
On May 8, 2022, Matthews was announced by the Angolan club Petro de Luanda to join the team for the 2022 BAL Playoffs.{{cite news |title=NOVO JOGADOR PARA A BAL |url=https://petroatletico.co.ao/noticia/3237 |access-date=9 May 2022 |work=Petro de Luanda |date=8 May 2022 |language=pt-PT}}
On October 21, 2022, Matthews signed with KR, replacing Michael Mallory.{{cite news |author1=Atli Arason |title=KR skiptir um Kana |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20222328175d/kr-skiptir-um-kana |access-date=21 October 2022 |work=Vísir.is |date=21 October 2022 |language=Icelandic}} On January 2, 2023, it was announced he would leave the team following its game against Grindavík on 5 January.{{cite news |author1=Gunnar Egill Daníelsson |title=Matthews og Semple á förum frá KR |url=https://www.mbl.is/sport/korfubolti/2023/01/02/matthews_og_semple_a_forum_fra_kr/ |access-date=2 January 2023 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=2 January 2023 |language=Icelandic}}
References
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Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Angola
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Finland
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Atlético Petróleos de Luanda basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Detroit
Category:Erie BayHawks (2019–2021) players
Category:Grindavík (men's basketball) players
Category:KR men's basketball players