Matt Bouldin said he knew it was the place for him even before his visit.
The senior guard at ThunderRidge in Highlands Ranch orally committed Tuesday night to play basketball at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash.
“It was just the right place,” said Bouldin, 6-feet-5 and 205 pounds. “It’s like a big basketball nation.”
Gonzaga, which has had success in recent seasons in the NCAA Tournament and is ranked in the preseason top five, landed Bouldin in a recruiting battle with Boston College, California, Connecticut, North Carolina State and Notre Dame. Colorado State, which Bouldin’s parents attended and where his father played, and Colorado were also in the mix.
ThunderRidge coach Joe Ortiz, who projected Bouldin as the program’s best player before he played a varsity minute, said his bushy-headed star “even has the hair of one of their guys.”
Said Bouldin: “He’s right, the hair fits right in.”
Bouldin’s game also may mesh immediately with the Bulldogs, whose guards have included John Stockton and Dan Dickau. Bouldin was told he will have a chance to compete for playing time immediately.
“I think they’ll be losing something like 80 minutes of guard play (for the 2006-07 season),” Bouldin said. “I just like their style. They give their guards a lot of freedom. They shoot and they run and gun. I just really like their play.”
Bouldin, who can equally handle the point- and off-guard positions, will bring a multifaceted game. He has 3-point range, can shoot off the dribble, negotiates the baseline and is accurate at the free-throw line. He’s also dependable against the press, effective posting up, repeatedly finds open teammates and has the stamina to play all day.
According to Ortiz, Bouldin will be asked to score more for the Grizzlies in 2005-06 (he averaged 14.4 points during the past regular season). The Grizzlies have played in the past four Class 5A title games, with championships in 2002 and 2003.
“Matt has the opportunity to be one of the best players to ever come out of here,” Ortiz said.
Bouldin, who said this season’s Grizzlies should be fun because his teammates will include “his best friends since the fifth grade,” can’t hide his relief.
“Coach Ortiz has taught me so much and it was nice to get this over,” he said. “Now, I can get back to just playing basketball and working on my game.”
He has a 3.2 grade-point average and is undecided on a major.
