Nothing puts a target on a player's back like being the No.1 prospect in the state, but for Austin Westlake's Matthew Mayer, that's just part of the process. After a summer on the EYBL circuit with Houston Hoops, and suiting up with Lockdown Basketball for the GASO in July (went out with a concussion), Mayer joined up with fellow top 2018 prospects Brock Cunningham (No.4) and Keonte Kennedy (No.37) and the rest of his Westlake squad for the San Antonio GASO Fall Classic. Although his day was cut short with a minor hand injury, Mayer talked with TexasHoops.com's Lyndon Cook after the showcase about his game and recruitment.
"The first game we did really well handling Shoemaker's full court pressure, and in the second I feel like we passed the ball well as a team and that's what got us wins in those games," Mayer said. "In the last game everybody got strained and tired and we just couldn't pull it out at the end."
A major talking point that emerged after the weekend was Mayer's personal matchups with other top prospects in the class of 2018. This fall alone, Mayer and his Westlake team have gone up against Quentin Grimes (No.2 c/o 2018) of College Park and Gerald Liddell (No.3 c/o 2018) of Cibolo Steele, and come away with the win on both occasions. After the games, Mayer had this to say about the games and pressure that goes with being the No.1 player in his class.
"It's a team effort really, and that's what matters, not me outplaying other guys who are ranked high," Mayer said about his ranking. "I try not to think about it, but there's definitely pressure that goes with it, but it gives me motivation to make sure that nobody walks out of the gym saying 'he's overrated' after one of my games."
Going into his junior season, Mayer has garnered a total of 9 offers from prominent programs such as Baylor, Boise State, Creighton, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Tennesse, Texas, and Texas A&M, with several more programs are interested in acquiring Mayer's services at the next level.
"There's always coaches in the gym to see different guys because we have a talented team, and as for visits I'm always going around the clock to see Baylor, Texas, and A&M."
In terms of pure skill, Mayer has to be up there at the top of his class in the country, not just the state. The six-foot-6 guard can do it all including playing the one, two or three. He moves well for his size and has deft handles that allow him to navigate around all sorts of defenses. Mayer uses his frame well, especially to get into his series of mid range floaters and jumpers. His passing and vision are impeccable, and he has a smooth stroke from all over the court. Mayer finishes well at the rim and is an underrated rebounder. While his offensive prowess may claim all the headlines, Mayer is actually a savvy defender capable of getting his team steals and blocks alike.
After a run to the regional finals last year, Mayer was asked about his expectations for the upcoming season at Austin Westlake.
"State. If we lose, it's not going to be a huge disappointment because the core of the team still has another year, but that's the main goal. We'll feel like we let Westlake down if we don't win it this year."
