Player returns to Augusta roots for college ball
Matt Scott dazzled local basketball crowds for four seasons at Lakeside High School before signing a scholarship with Georgia Southern.
Lakeside's Matt Scott, is shown on Jan 10, 2003, playing for Lakeside High School. Scott just transferred to Augusta State.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
The local fans will get to watch Scott for four more years now.
Columbia County's all-time leading scorer has transferred from Georgia Southern to Augusta State, and will be eligible to play this upcoming season, said Joey Warren, Augusta State's sports information director.
Scott, redshirted at Southern, and will have four years of eligibility. He won't have to sit out a year because he is transferring from a Division I school to a Division II school.
"We are elated that Matt is joining our program," said Jaguars coach Dip Metress. "Matt has demonstrated the ability to shoot the basketball, and we look forward to his development in the next four years at Augusta State. To pick up a player of Matt's ability at this point in the summer is a great benefit to our program as we try to build upon last year's success."
Metress said the transfer was a combination of wanting to be back home and wanting more playing time.
Scott could contend for a starting spot following the departure of Cameron Tovey, who left school after being named Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year to sign a professional contract with the Perth Wildcats in his home country of Australia. Tovey was the first player in Peach Belt history to sign a pro contract with eligibility remaining, said Metress.
"Cameron was a great player for us," said Metress. "There is an open spot because he left. Matt could be a guy looking at that spot, but there are other players we have that have a shot."
Scott averaged 27.8 points a game as a senior at Lakeside and is the only player in county history to eclipse the 2,000-point barrier in a career.
He was named most valuable player of the Georgia-South Carolina All Star game and was named The Augusta Chronicle Player of the Year following his senior season. His 106 3-pointers are also a county single-season record.
"Matt has a great jumper," said Metress. "I wasn't here when Matt played at Lakeside but I have talked to a number of players that saw him play. Everyone said he had a great shot."
File photo by Jim Blaylock