Tiger Hoops Standout Going to IMG Academy
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–On Monday afternoon, GMC Hoops learned that recent South Plainfield graduate and hoops standout, Chris Mathis has decided to attend IMG Academy Prep School in Bradenton, Florida. This past season, Mathis earned a spot in the GMCBCA Senior All-Star Game with his performance during the season for the Tigers. According to NJ.com, Mathis played in all 24 games for the Tigers in 2013-14. He connected on 83 field goals, 21 three pointers, and 45 free throws for a total of 274 points, or an average of 11.4 points per game.
Mathis first appeared on the hoops scene in Middlesex County as a freshman when he teamed up with Piscataway Tech’s Jordan Lackey on the 2010-11 South Plainfield Tigers freshmen team that reached the Championship Game of the 2011 Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tournament before losing to St. Joseph’s-Green (54-41). Then, as a sophomore, Mathis played in 10 games for the SPHS varsity while also playing JV. In those games, Mathis averaged only 1.5 points per game. In 2012-13, Mathis’ role increased as he played in a total of 23 games, made 32 field goals, 3 three pointers, and 16 free throws for a total of 88 points, or an average of 3.8 points per game to go along with 2.4 rebounds per game.
This past season, his senior year, he blossomed into the go-to guy on the Tigers squad. In the season opener against Spotswood, Mathis scored a game high 23 points and pulled down 7 rebounds to lead the Tigers to an upset of eventual GMC Blue Division winner, Spotswood. He followed that up with a 21 point performance on December 23rd at Union Catholic. Mathis would go on to post double figures in 11 of his games this year including three where he scored 20 or more. With Lackey transferring to Piscataway Tech, the Tigers were unable to live up to the potential they had as freshmen in 2011. Over the last three years, SPHS was a combined 16-55 including a 10-36 record in division play. Nevertheless, Mathis was a bright spot, and actually improved significantly in many aspects of his game since his freshman year.
IMG Academy’s basketball program is led by former NBA player, Kenny Natt, and has had successful alumni including 23 NBA Draft picks and 23 DI signees since 2009. Coaching staff includes former Syracuse University graduate, Ryan Blackwell. Former NJ standout that played and graduated from IMG Academy this past year was Jordan Forehand of Bridgewater, who played at St. Benedict’s two years ago. Last season, the Ascenders were 8-10 overall this past season.