Feature:
Montez Mathis: Tough and Tenacious |
2019-20 in Photos
- Played in three seasons at Rutgers, playing in 90 games with 67 starts
- Averaged 8.0 points and 3.1 rebounds with 71 steals
- High profile recruit who was a 1st team all-conference performer in the famed Baltimore Catholic league
- Relentless competitor with an explosive transition game
- Attacks with both speed and power to produce points
- Unselfish player who brings toughness to the floor while providing strong defense
2020-21 (Junior):
- 2020-21 Academic All-Big Ten
- Averaged 8.3 points and 2.8 rebounds on 38.3 percent shooting in 28 games (13 starts)
- Scored double-digits in eight of nine games to start the season
- Had 17 points, three steals and three assists in win over Sacred Heart (Nov. 25)
- Scored 15 points with three assists in win over FDU (Nov. 27)
- Posted 14 points and six rebounds in win over Hofstra (Nov. 29)
- Notched 19 points with seven rebounds in win over Syracuse (Dec. 8)
- Scored 15 points in win over No. 13 Illinois (Dec. 20)
- Posted 16 points at No. 23 Ohio State (Dec. 23)
- Scored a career-high 25 points in win over Purdue (Dec. 29)
- Posted 10 points in NCAA Tournament against Houston (March 21)
2019-20 (Sophomore):
- Starter at guard in all 31 games, one of two players to start all 31 contests
- Averaged 7.4 points and 3.5 rebounds with 30 steals
- Had steal rate of 1.9% in Big Ten games, 24th in the conference
- Scored in double-figures 10 times, with six of those against Big Ten foes
- Posted season-highs in points (17) and rebounds (eight) against Michigan at Madison Square Garden (Feb. 1)
2018-19 (Freshman):
- Starter at guard in 23 of 31 games
- Was third on team with 8.5 points per game while averaging 2.9 rebounds and collecting 34 assists and 22 steals
- In conference-only games, averaged 10.2 points per game
- Scored in double-figures 13 times with a season-high of 20 against Nebrraska (Jan. 21)
- Among Big Ten freshmen in regular season, ranked ninth in steals (0.7), 10th in scoring, 11th in field goal percentage (37.6), 12th in assists (1.1) and 16th in rebounding (2.9)
- Led team in scoring six times
Scholastic:
- A 2018 graduate of The John Carroll School in Bel Air, Md.
- A consensus four star recruit according to 247 Sports, Rivals and ESPN who helped John Carroll High School to a 29-8 mark and the MIAA "A" Conference title in 2017-18 under head coach John Zito
- First Team All-Baltimore County League and first team all-conference honoree
- Rated as the 108th by overall player by Rivals and 132nd overall recruit by 247Sports
- Was ranked as the top overall 2018 recruit in the State of Maryland by Scout
- Averaged 26.7 points and 8.9 rebounds-per-game as a junior
- Competed on the AAU circuit for Team BBC
- Denoted as a "Blue Collar Star" by USA Today for his play at The Gauntlet in May 2017
- Participated in the 2016 USA U17 World Championship Team training camp and the 2015 USA U16 National Team training camp Named to the 2015-16 USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team
- Was enrolled at Oak Hill Academy (Va.) in 2015-16 and helped the team to a 45-1 record and the 2016 DICK'S Sporting Goods Nationals title
- Was selected as the DMVelite Maryland Freshman of the Year and All-Baltimore Catholic League third team in 2014-15
Personal:
- Son of Kym Wertz-Mathis and Aaron Mathis
- Major is Africana Studies
- Has three brothers, Dontae, Maliqué and Monty
- Both grandfathers are retired from the U.S. Army
- Name is pronounced mahn-TEZ. Nickname is "Tez"
- Signed with Rutgers over reported offers from UConn, Memphis, Minnesota, N.C. State, St. John's, USC, Virginia Tech and West Virginia
- As signee, along with classmate Ron Harper, Jr., provided Rutgers multiple four-star signees in the same class for the first time since 2008
Know York Knights: Montez Mathis
One word to describe Coach Pikiell: Intense
Favorite Rutgers basketball player, past or present: Cappie Pondexter
Best friend(s) on another collegiate team: Tyler Foster (East Carolina), Nigel Jackson (Wagner), Immanuel Quickley (Kentucky), Darryl Morsell (Maryland), Noah Locke (Florida)
Favorite professional athlete: LeBron James
Favorite professional sports team: Washington Wizards
One word to describe myself on the court: Heart
One word to describe myself off the court: Laid Back
Favorite cereal: Captain Crunch
Favorite pizza topping: Pepperoni or pineapple
My first trophy was for…: MVP of U-9 team
Movie I have watched the most: House Party, Cooley High
People sometimes say that I resemble…: My Grandparents
Favorite musician/group: G Herbo
My spirit animal is: Lion
