'Just Be Me'
12/9/2020 1:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball, My GW: Celebrating our Stories
Graduate transfer Moyer making an instant impact for men's basketball
Matt Moyer snared a Coppin State miss and took off the other way.
In five powerful dribbles, the 6-foot-9 GW forward was bearing down on the Eagles defense, and when no one stepped up to stop him, he simply kept on going for a two-handed slam that sent a roar from the home sideline echoing through the fanless Smith Center.
The explosive sequence early in the second half of last Saturday’s 85-69 victory showcased Moyer at his best, turning defense into offense in the blink of an eye.
It was the sort of highlight that became the norm during a prep career that sent him rocketing up the recruiting rankings, but the former four-star prospect has rarely had the opportunity to flash the full range of his impressive skillset since then.
After Power 5 stops at Syracuse and Vanderbilt, Moyer has been re-energized by his move to the Buff and Blue, offering a glimpse at the vision Head Coach Jamion Christian laid out in his recruitment of the graduate transfer.
The veteran coach believes that playmaking freedom and the confidence that comes with it can help unlock the full scope of Moyer’s potential within GW’s up-tempo brand of MAYHEM.
“This is the first time I’ve been able to show it in college,” Moyer said. “That’s just the Coach Christian Effect. I’m very grateful that he believes in me. He wants me to go out and make plays and just be me.”
.@matthewmoyer13 takes it all the way!#RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/zo7YY2ooEl
— GW Men's Basketball (@GW_MBB) December 5, 2020
So far, the results have been encouraging: Through four games, Moyer is averaging 11.5 points on an efficient 54.8 percent shooting from the field, plus a team-high 8.8 rebounds, in 28.5 minutes per contest.
The highlight was a 19-point, 11-rebound effort in the victory over Coppin State, his first double-double since Dec. 31, 2017, at Virginia Tech while playing in the ACC at Syracuse.
“He’s a legitimate dribble-pass-shoot-rebound guy,” Christian said. “It’s just hard to find those guys. It’s been great coaching him and just watching him get this opportunity here.”
After averaging 2.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 25 games last season at Vanderbilt playing for his third different head coach in as many years, Moyer sought a fresh start to finish his collegiate career.
Christian and his staff recognized opportunity, believing Moyer’s blend of size and skill made for a good fit in their system. To prove it, they sent the forward a series of clips, many of them highlighting Miles Wilson (Mount St. Mary’s) and Manny Camper (Siena), two dynamic guys who had success under Christian taking advantage of the spacing on the perimeter to find driving lanes to get to the rim.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Moyer navigated an unusual recruitment with every piece of the process virtual from his home in Ohio. His search included a conversation with his buddy Elijah Burns, who found similar opportunity in joining Christian at Siena after transferring from Notre Dame.
On March 25, Moyer announced his decision in a Twitter post that closed with #OneLastDance. No matter that his only previous visit to D.C. came on an eighth-grade field trip.
“Not being able to take a visit, it really comes down to the people,” said Moyer, who is seeking his master’s in Management through the GW School of Business with a certificate in Project Management. “This staff is just incredible. Their plan and vision for me was just completely separate and different from any other program that recruited me. I just felt like it was the perfect place.”
Grateful for this opportunity ???? pic.twitter.com/iEiAcMPuSw
— Matthew Moyer (@matthewmoyer13) March 25, 2020
It’s been an excellent match for all involved.
Behind the scenes, Moyer has been a regular in Christian’s office for film study and conversation, and he’s fit right in with the program’s culture of love and family in an unprecedented season that’s required adapting on the fly to new health and safety protocols and schedule changes.
“With all the uncertainty, it’s just a blessing to be able to go out and play with this group of guys,” Moyer said. “It really puts things in perspective. You don’t take a game for granted. You don’t take a single moment throughout the game for granted. Because it’s not promised.”
Indeed, Moyer, at 23 years old, has a unique understanding of the bigger picture.
Christian has seen the veteran’s leadership make a difference for a roster dominated by first-years and sophomores.
“It helps because he’s got a great perspective,” Christian said. “He’s seen a lot of different things. He’s played at a lot of different levels for a lot of different coaches. He knows what’s a big deal and what isn’t a big deal.
“Sometimes when you’re a younger player in the locker room, you miss some of the details because you don’t know what’s most important as you’re trying to figure it all out. He’s been there and done that, and he’s been able to really help our guys understand that.”
On the court, Moyer’s impact has been evident.
He’s displayed toughness on the boards and versatility on defense, in addition to his growing production on the offensive end.
After scoring two points on 1-of-5 shooting in the opener at Navy, he’s hit double figures in three straight outings, converting a combined 16-of-26 from the field and 11-of-14 from the foul line.
In his confidence-boosting effort against Coppin State, Moyer jumpstarted his afternoon late in the first half by finishing through contact for a 3-point play before piling up 16 points after halftime to help the Colonials pull away, including his coast-to-coast dunk that left two Eagles defenders pointing at each other.
“It was a little bit surreal,” said Moyer, whose previous career high was an 18-point performance in a December 2017 game vs. UConn. “Just to see, ‘Hey, you can still do this. You’re still a good player,’ it’s definitely reassuring.”
Career-high 19 points?
— GW Men's Basketball (@GW_MBB) December 5, 2020
First double-double since 2017?
First victory in Buff and Blue?
Big-time effort from @matthewmoyer13!#RaiseHigh | #R1SEWITHUS pic.twitter.com/GWEvQpC86x
Christian believes Moyer’s contributions will only continue to grow as he becomes more comfortable in his role. He’s shown more playmaking ability as a passer in practice that hasn’t come through in games the same way yet.
“He’s just the best,” Christian said. “We love coaching him, we love his approach, and we’re excited to be a part of his journey because we think his story hasn’t finished being written yet.”
For Moyer, that’s precisely the point. His #OneLastDance is off to a promising start, and he’s excited about the chance to put a satisfying cap on his collegiate career.
“I wouldn’t want my path and journey to be any different,” Moyer said. “I think everybody’s put on a path for a reason. I’m a firm believer in that. Every experience I had, every coach I had built me to this moment now to where I think I’m ready for this opportunity.”