Matt Costello

{{for-multi|the Scottish footballer|Matt Costello (footballer)|the writer|Matthew Costello}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Matt Costello

| image = 2023-01-05 ALBA Berlin gegen Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (EuroLeague 2022-23) by Sandro Halank–057.jpg

| image_size = 200

| caption = Costello in 2023

| position = Center / power forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 10

| weight_lb = 240

| league = Liga ACB

| team = Valencia Basket

| number = 24

| nationality = American / Ivorian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|8|5}}

| birth_place = Linwood, Michigan, U.S.

| high_school = Bay City Western
(Auburn, Michigan)

| college = Michigan State (2012–2016)

| draft_year = 2016

| career_start = 2016

| years1 = 2016–2017

| team1 = Iowa Energy

| years2 = {{nbay|2017|full=y}}

| team2 = San Antonio Spurs

| years3 = 2017–2018

| team3 = →Austin Spurs

| years4 = 2018–2019

| team4 = Sidigas Avellino

| years5 = 2019–2021

| team5 = Gran Canaria

| years6 = 2021–2024

| team6 = Baskonia

| years7 = 2024–present

| team7 = Valencia

| highlights =

EuroCup blocks leader (2021)
NBA G League champion (2018)
Second-team All-Big Ten – Media (2016)
Third-team All-Big Ten – Coaches (2016)
First-team Parade All-American (2012)
Michigan Mr. Basketball (2012)

|medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{bk|CIV}}}}

}}

Matthew Tyler Costello (born August 5, 1993) is an American-born naturalized Ivorian professional basketball player for Valencia of the Spanish Liga ACB. He played college basketball for Michigan State.{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/matt_costello_824996.html|title=Matt Costello Bio|work=MSUSpartans.com|accessdate=March 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022095348/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/matt_costello_824996.html|archive-date=October 22, 2016|url-status=dead}}

High school career

Costello was a highly touted recruit coming out of Bay City Western High School.

2012 Hal Schram Mr. Basketball Award winner
2012 Gatorade Michigan High School Player of the Year
2012 Parade Magazine All-American
2x Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News Dream Team
2011 Gatorade Michigan High School Player of the Year

Costello averaged 25.1 points, 19.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 blocks per game at Bay City Western for Coach Chris Watz. Costello led the Warriors to the Class 4A regional semifinals, an 18–6 record, and a second-straight district championship. He finished his career as the school's all-time leader in points (1,518), rebounds (1,069) and blocked shots (280). He was one of the best recruits in the country. He ranked among the top-100 players in the nation by the following:

Rivals.com (#83)(#21 power forward)
ESPNU100 (#87) (#17 power forward)
Scout.com (#95) (#23 center)

He averaged 19.8 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.8 blocks as a junior, shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 72 percent from the foul line. Costello posted a school-record 19 double-doubles. He helped his team improve from 10 to 11 in 2010 to 24–3 in 2011, leading Bay City Western to Class A state semifinals for the first time in school history. His stats earned him MVP of Saginaw Valley Association. Costello averaged 16.7 points 11.8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 assists as a sophomore and set a school record with 14 blocks in a single game. In 2010 Bay City Times named him to the Dream Team and first-team All-Saginaw Valley League selection. He was a National Honor Society member.

College career

=Freshman year=

As a freshman, Costello appeared in 30 games, averaging 6.1 minutes,1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds, shooting .469 from the field. His .824 free-throw percentage (14–17) was tops on the team. He ranked fourth on the team with 13 blocks, averaging a block every 14.2 minutes. Playing time increased when he averaged 8.0 minutes in the last 13 games after playing more than eight minutes just once in the first 23 games. Costello turned in one of his best games in a 75–52 win over No. 4 Michigan (2/12), scoring a season-high eight points and grabbing a Big Ten season-high six rebounds, hitting all three field goal attempts and both free throw attempts. He scored six points and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds against Tuskegee (12/15), blocked a season-high three shots against No. 1 Indiana (2/19), and blocked two shots each against Texas Southern (11/18), Nebraska (2/16) and Valparaiso (3/21) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Costello missed the first two games of the season and both exhibition games with a bruised back.

=Sophomore year=

Costello appeared in 34 games, starting 20, averaging 4.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per contest, He led the team with 43 blocks, ranking 10th in the Big Ten (1.3 bpg). His 43 blocks were the seventh-best single-season total in school history, and the most ever by a Spartan sophomore. He blocked 24 shots in Big Ten contests (1.3 bpg), ranking eighth in the conference. Costello ranked second on the team in field-goal percentage (.598) In December he missed 4 games due to mononucleosis. He posted his first career double-double in an overtime win at Iowa (1/28), scoring a season-high 11 points and grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds; nine of his 11 points came in the last five minutes of regulation and overtime. Costello scored 10 points against Penn State (2/6), adding six rebounds and a season-high tying three assists as well as dishing out three assists against Columbia (11/15) Costello scored six or more points in 10 contests and grabbed five or more rebounds in eight games • Tallied nine points and eight rebounds against Michigan (1/25) • Also scored nine points against Northwestern (2/13) • Tallied seven points and eight rebounds against Minnesota (1/11) He made improvements on playing time and started 13 of 18 Big Ten contests, averaging 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in conference games Costello made history when he blocked a career-best six shots at Illinois (1/18), tying the second-best single-game effort in MSU history. He blocked two or more shots in 10 contests. At the end of the year, he received Academic All-Big Ten honors.

=Junior year=

File:Matt Costello.jpg

Costello appeared in 39 games, starting six, averaging 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 20.4 minutes. He shot .579 from the floor, ranking second among teammates with more than 100 field-goal attempts. Costello ranked 13th in the Big Ten in blocked shots overall (1.2 bpg) and seventh in Big Ten games (1.5 bpg). His 48 blocks rank as the seventh-best single-season total in MSU history. Costello managed to score in double figures in 11 games and grabbed double-figure rebounds in two contests. He posted two double-doubles vs. Loyola (11/21; 13 points, 11 rebounds) and Texas Southern (12/20; 17 pts., 10 reb.). Costello was a team leader in many categories and led MSU in scoring in two games and in rebounding in eight contests. He scored a career-best 17 points against Texas Southern (12/20) and scored 15 points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (12/6). His season-high of 11 rebounds came against Loyola (11/21). He blocked two or more shots in 13 games, including a season-high four against Michigan (2/1) and Purdue (3/4). Costello grabbed seven or more rebounds in 14 contests, including five games with nine or more boards. He started the first six games of the season, then came off the bench for the final 33 contests. At the end of the year, he received Academic All-Big Ten honors. With Costello commanding the post, the Spartans were able to reach the 2015 Final Four.

=Senior year=

During Costello's senior year, he made many improvements to his game. Because of this, he received many end of the year awards. He currently has the third-most blocks all-time in Michigan State basketball history.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-26|title=Xavier Tillman sets new Michigan State blocks record|url=https://saturdaytradition.com/michigan-state-football/xavier-tillman-sets-new-michigan-state-blocks-record/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Saturday Tradition|language=en-US}} Costello was honored with a selection to the Reese's College All-Star game in Houston, Texas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/final-four/reeses-college-all-star-roster|title=Reese's College All-Star Roster|website=NCAA.com|accessdate=April 2, 2016}}

CBS-BigTen 2nd Team{{cite web|first=Sam|last=Vecenie|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25501400/all-conference-awards-big-ten-edition|title=Michigan State's Denzel Valentine leads CBS Sports Big Ten awards|website=CBSSports.com|date=March 7, 2016|accessdate=March 12, 2016}}
BigTen 2nd Team Media
BigTen 3rd Team Coaches{{cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030716aad.html|title=Big Ten Unveils Mens Basketball Postseason Honors on BTN Big Ten Conference Official Site|work=BigTen.org|date=March 7, 2016|accessdate=March 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308103727/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030716aad.html|archive-date=March 8, 2016|url-status=dead}}
Bleacher Report Team of the Week; Week 11{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Franchuk|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2610538-college-basketballs-all-week-11-first-team-top-performers-at-every-position/page/5|title=College Basketball's All-Week 11 First Team: Top Performers at Every Position|website=Bleacher Report|date=January 24, 2016|accessdate=March 12, 2016}}
Sports Illustrated- All Glue Team (Captain){{cite web|first=Seth|last=Davis|url=http://www.campusrush.com/all-glue-team-matt-costello-marshall-plumlee-james-farr-rapheal-davis-1647663823.html|title=Introducing the 17th annual SI.com All-Glue Team|website=Campus Rush|date=March 7, 2016|accessdate=April 12, 2016}}
Reese's College All Star Game
Portsmouth Invitational Tournament{{cite web|first=Rob|last=Reheuser|url=https://www.portsmouthinvitational.com/2016-pit-recap.html|title=2016 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament recap|website=Portsmouth Invitational Tournament|date=April 18, 2016|accessdate=April 19, 2016|archive-date=October 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030075029/https://www.portsmouthinvitational.com/2016-pit-recap.html|url-status=dead}}
PIT All-Tournament Team{{cite web|first=Kyle|last=Austin|url=http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2016/04/matt_costello_bryn_forbes_win.html|title=Matt Costello, Bryn Forbes win all-tournament honors at Portsmouth Invitational|work=MLive.com|date=April 17, 2016|accessdate=October 29, 2016}}

Professional career

=Iowa Energy (2016–2017)=

After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Costello joined the Atlanta Hawks for the 2016 NBA Summer League. On July 26, 2016, he signed with the Hawks,{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/atlanta-hawks-sign-matt-costello|title=Atlanta Hawks Sign Matt Costello|work=NBA.com|date=July 26, 2016|accessdate=July 26, 2016}} but was later waived on October 17 after appearing in two preseason games.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/hawks-request-waivers-matt-costello|title=Hawks Request Waivers On Matt Costello|work=NBA.com|date=October 17, 2016|accessdate=October 17, 2016}} He signed with the Memphis Grizzlies on October 20,{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/costello-and-dunham-signed-161020|title=Grizzlies sign Matt Costello & Kellen Dunham|work=NBA.com|date=October 20, 2016|accessdate=October 21, 2016}} but was waived again on October 24.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/roster-finalized-161024|title=Grizzlies finalize 2016–17 regular season roster|work=NBA.com|date=October 24, 2016|accessdate=October 24, 2016}} Five days later, he was acquired by the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League as an affiliate player of the Grizzlies.{{cite web|url=http://iowa.dleague.nba.com/news/energy-announce-returning-affiliate-tryout-players-2/|title=Energy Announce Returning, Affiliate and Tryout Players|work=NBA.com|date=October 29, 2016|accessdate=October 30, 2016|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216050317/http://iowa.dleague.nba.com/news/energy-announce-returning-affiliate-tryout-players-2/|url-status=dead}}

=San Antonio Spurs (2017–2018)=

On July 24, 2017, Costello signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs. Under a two-way contract, he divided time between the Spurs and San Antonio's G-League affiliate, the Austin Spurs.{{cite web|title=SPURS SIGN MATT COSTELLO TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT|url=http://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-sign-matt-costello-two-way-contract/|website=NBA.com|accessdate=July 25, 2017|date=July 24, 2017}} He made his NBA debut on November 12 during a blowout 133–94 win over the Chicago Bulls.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2017/11/matt_costello_has_busy_10_minu.html|title=Matt Costello has busy 10 minutes in NBA debut with San Antonio Spurs|work=Mlive.com|date=November 12, 2017|accessdate=August 2, 2018}}

=Scandone Avellino (2018–2019)=

On August 2, 2018, Costello signed a deal with the Italian club Sidigas Avellino of the LBA.{{cite web|url=https://sportando.basketball/it/italia/serie-a/284368/avellino-matt-costello-ha-firmato.html|title=Avellino: Matt Costello ha firmato|work=Sportando.basketball|date=August 2, 2018|accessdate=August 2, 2018|language=Italian|trans-title=Avellino: Matt Costello signed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802193204/https://sportando.basketball/it/italia/serie-a/284368/avellino-matt-costello-ha-firmato.html|archive-date=August 2, 2018|url-status=dead}}

=Gran Canaria (2019–2021)=

Costello averaged 11.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for Gran Canaria during the 2019–20 season. He inked a two-year contract extension on June 25, 2020.{{cite news |title=Matt Costello signs contract extension with Gran Canaria |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/matt-costello-signs-contract-extension-with-gran-canaria/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=June 25, 2020 |date=June 25, 2020|last1=Lupo |first1=Nicola }} During the 2020–21 season, Costello averaged 12.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the Liga ACB, as well as 10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in the EuroCup.

=Baskonia (2021–2024)=

On July 5, 2021, Costello officially signed a three-year contract with fellow Liga ACB club Baskonia, marking his EuroLeague debut.{{cite news |title=Baskonia signs Matt Costello to multi-year deal |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/baskonia-signs-matt-costello-to-multi-year-deal/ |website=Sportando |access-date=July 5, 2021 |date=July 5, 2021|last1=Carchia |first1=Emiliano }}

= Valencia Basket (2024–present) =

On July 2, 2024, he signed with Valencia of the Spanish Liga ACB.{{Cite web|url=https://valenciabasket.com/?p=noticias¬icia=10977|title=Matt Costello, luxury addition to the Taronja's inside game|last=|first=|date=July 2, 2024|website=valenciabasket.com|publisher=|language=En|access-date=July 2, 2024}}

National team career

Costello was granted the Ivorian citizenship and played with the Ivory Coast national basketball team during AfroBasket 2021.{{cite web |title=Matt Costello fully committed to Cote d'Ivoire |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/afrobasket/2021/news/matt-costello-fully-committed-to-cote-divoire |website=FIBA.basketball |access-date=4 September 2021 |language=en}}

Personal life

Costello is the son of Mike and Jen Costello. He majored in interdisciplinary studies in social science with a concentration in human capital and society.

Career statistics

=NBA=

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2017}}

| style="text-align:left;"| San Antonio

| 4 || 0 || 8.1 || .500 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 2.2 || .5 || .5 || .5 || 1.0

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 4 || 0 || 8.1 || .500 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 2.2 || .5 || .5 || .5 || 1.0

=EuroLeague=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Baskonia

| 27 || 14 || 21.9 || .505 || .323 || .792 || 5.1 || 1.3 || .4 || .9 || 9.1 || 11.7

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23

| 34 || 5 || 20.0 || .498 || .360 || .708 || 4.2 || 1.5 || .6 || .9 || 9.3 || 10.7

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| 33 || 13 || 22.2 || .479 || .319 || .684 || 4.2 || 1.7 || .7 || .8 || 9.7 || 10.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 94 || 32 || 21.3 || .493 || .334 || .728 || 4.5 || 1.5 || .6 || .9 || 9.4 || 10.8

=EuroCup=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21

| style="text-align:left;"| Gran Canaria

| 17 || 7 || 22.5 || .489 || .450 || .683 || 6.5 || 1.7 || .2 || 1.8 || 10.2 || 14.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 17 || 7 || 22.5 || .489 || .450 || .683 || 6.5 || 1.7 || .2 || 1.8 || 10.2 || 14.2

=Basketball Champions League=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19

| style="text-align:left;"| Felice Scandone

| 4 || 4 || 27.9 || .647 || .333 || .588 || 9.2 || .7 || .2 || .2 || 13.7

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 4 || 4 || 27.9 || .647 || .333 || .588 || 9.2 || .7 || .2 || .2 || 13.7

=Domestic leagues=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"

! Year

! Team

! League

! {{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}

! {{Tooltip|MPG|Minutes per game}}

! {{Tooltip|FG%|Field goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|3P%|3-point field-goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|FT%|Free-throw percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|RPG|Rebounds per game}}

! {{Tooltip|APG|Assists per game}}

! {{Tooltip|SPG|Steals per game}}

! {{Tooltip|BPG|Blocks per game}}

! {{Tooltip|PPG|Points per game}}

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA|size=20px}} Iowa Energy || style="text-align:center;"|D-League || 23 || 25.3 || .512 || .184 || .774 || 10.2 || 1.9 || .6 || 1.6 || 9.5

| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA|size=20px}} Austin Spurs || style="text-align:center;"|G League || 30 || 22.0 || .511 || .366 || .791 || 7.0 || 1.9 || .8 || 2.2 || 8.1

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Italy|size=20px}} Felice Scandone || style="text-align:center;"|LBA || 6 || 21.8 || .611 || .000 || .600 || 6.3 || 1.3 || .5 || .7 || 8.8

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} Gran Canaria || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 27 || 22.2 || .518 || .348 || .784 || 7.6 || 1.4 || .7 || 1.2 || 11.1

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} Gran Canaria || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 31 || 23.5 || .482 || .397 || .741 || 5.9 || 1.2 || .5 || 1.1 || 12.5

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} Baskonia || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 37 || 19.3 || .464 || .374 || .784 || 5.5 || 1.5 || .6 || 1.2 || 9.5

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} Baskonia || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 33 || 21.1 || .509 || .320 || .718 || 5.6 || 1.8 || .7 || 1.4 || 9.9

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} Baskonia || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 30 || 22.7 || .547 || .403 || .745 || 4.8 || 1.4 || .5 || .9 || 11.9