As a former ball player on Vancouver Island, I used to have to double Matt Neufeld constantly from the wing. One thing leads to the next, and after a quick kick out, I’m getting another 3 rained over my head. But what's a player to do, if you don't double, he’ll make a poster out of your post. If you do double down, it’s an easy assist to one of his Lambrick Park assassins on the perimeter. It’s a tough dilemma, one that teams in the NCAA Atlantic 10, are still trying to figure out, 5 years later when they face the St. Louis Billikens.
Matt Neufeld is a name that you probably don’t remember, being that he played at AA Victoria High School Lambrick Park. Removed from the buzzing basketball culture of Vancouver, Matt was left somewhat up to his own resources to find exposure on a national and international stage “I’ve been fortunate to with a couple really great coaches that have helped me get exposure. Ken Shields was a big part of my development and also helped me on the recruiting side. “ Matt said in a recent interview with vancouverbasketball.com. In addition to his aforementioned coach, Matt was able to break out of his island shell with Vancouver local DRIVE development program, as he played a single season of AAU with the club. Only able to do so in his Grade 12 year off season because of his decision to attend prep school in the US the following year.
DRIVE not only allowed Matt to spark some Division 1 interest, but also raised the eyebrows of a select few coaches at Canada Basketball. Where he was selected for the U17 national team, as an alternate. Without getting the chance to ever suit up for the U17 national team, Matt went into the U19 national team tryouts in 2015 with a chip on his shoulder, where he ultimately was selected and received ”exposure to some great competition worldwide and got some great coaching along the way”.
It wasn't easy keeping Matt here in BC throughout his high school life. In fact, before his senior season with Lambrick, playing at a school down south was on the table in a major way. “My parents and I actually seriously considered going to a high school in Washington to finish out my high school career but ultimately decided against it. Lambrick won a provincial championship that year so the decision in my opinion was worth it.”
Overall the transition from small town BC to Division 1 in St.Louis has been a smooth one. The bright lights of the basketball business are always on down south. Even though Matt is out living the dream, there is no offseason, and he is only able to come home for 2-weeks out of the year. Basketball never stops for the BC native in the US. But it's all part of the lifestyle of being able to play hoops on the highest collegiate level in the world.
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