Matt Owies Q&A

Australian point guard Matthew Owies became the first Hawaii hoops oral commitment for the 2016 class this week.

Here was what Owies had to say on a few topics in a phone interview Wednesday.

Q: When did you decide?
A: Coach (Eran) Ganot came over to my house for a home visit about a week before I went over there for an official visit (last week). I really liked the university and everything. Me and mum were over there on the official visit and we came home, and a day after I’d been home I called up Coach Ganot a day after talking to family, and I committed.

Q: What was your recruitment process like?
A: It was pretty cool because everyone in Australia, we’re sort of a little more isolated from the recruiting process. So I had quite a few schools contact me and talk to me and stuff like that. Had a couple of offers, but Hawaii just really, really stuck out as as the place to go with the culture and everything there. So yeah, it was hard to narrow it down but I’m really set and really happy with the decision I made.

Q: What were the other schools you were considering in the end?
A: Northern Colorado, Arkansas-Little Rock, Northern Iowa and Washington State.

Q: How did your international playing experience help you for the next level?
A: Playing at the Under-17 World Championships, I’m playing against the best players in the world (of that age). Australia did really well; we ended up coming second to America and only lost by, I think it was seven points. (It showed) what I need to improve on to extend my game and try to beat the best players in the world. I think it was just really good to see where I sat in the world with everyone else. I thought I did pretty well, but there’s definitely some stuff I need to improve on.

Q: What are you working on improving specifically?
A: I’m just continuing to work on improving my shot consistency as that can always improve, creative finishes around the rim, and continuing to develop a really deceptive change of pace to my game.

Q: What’s your status in high school at St. Kevin’s College?
A: Our high school season’s already finished. About five more weeks of school and then I’m done, I’ve finished my senior year. I’ve been playing with the Dandenong Rangers FIBA team, which is some of the NBL (National Basketball League in Australia) players playing in the offseason. So that was a big step up playing against men and I think that’s really prepared me for next year going to college. I’ll play that next year for half a season and then come over (to UH). That’s the real big one that’s been keeping me busy. … It’s pretty full-on. Playing against men and those big bodies have really helped me.

Q: How have you adapted to being one of the smallest guys (6 feet) on the court?
A: You really have to learn how to outsmart everyone. I think that’s one of the big pros in my game, is being able to outsmart people with changes of pace, smarter passing, better shot selection. I think overall IQ of the game I think is a real big thing; when you’re small you need to outsmart all those bigger guys. Changing of pace and stuff like that. That’s how I’ve adapted, just by learning the game off everyone. Looking at plays and taking things off them, especially small players in the NBA. Just improving my IQ when I step on the court, and off the court, is a real big thing.

Q: You have any pro players you try to pattern your game against?
A: I really like the way Chris Paul plays. Just how he just seems to be a step ahead of everyone else out there on the court. I really like Steve Nash, even though he’s retired, I really like how he played, how he would outsmart everyone with his spectacular passing and stuff like that.

Q: What’s it like knowing you have two other Australians on the team (Jack Purchase and Jakob Cornelissen)?
A: Well, all three of us played in the same club (Melbourne Tigers) back in Australia for our juniors. I’ve known Jack and Jakob since I was about 12 years old. It’s really cool to go over there on a visit and know those guys were there. It’s easier to get to know everyone. It’s definitely easier to have Australian people that you know at the university just to make life easier, ‘cause you’re a long way from home, it’s tough.

Q: Did the shorter distance to UH compared to the mainland factor in?
A: Ah yeah, definitely for Mom and Dad especially, so they can come over and watch some games when I’m there. A lot easier than it would be on the mainland … So, that definitely was just an added bonus. My parents just wanted me to go anywhere that was the right fit. It just happened that Hawaii was the right fit for me.

Q: Other general thoughts about your commitment?
A: I’m really excited about the culture the coaches are going to build there. They like hard work and it’s just like one big family. Also, winning, that was stuff that really sold me on the opportunity to go there. And the facilities at the university are world class, the Stan Sheriff Center and stuff like that. The people of Hawaii are so nice, those were things that really sold me on going to Hawaii. I’m really excited about the whole thing.

Q: You planning to sign in the upcoming early period?
A: As soon as I can, I’ll sign that National Letter of Intent and just get it all done, so it’s 100 percent that I’m going there. I’m really excited.

Q: On being the first commitment for the 2016 class:
A: That’s really exciting. I’ve been in contact with Coach Ganot for a while and the other (assistant) coaches, and it’s just really exciting to build that culture and to be the first one in his 2016 recruiting class. I can’t want to see who else I’ll be playing with, who else he’ll get in that recruiting class.