Owies commits for 2016

Eran Ganot has his first oral commitment for the 2016-17 season in Australian point guard Matthew Owies.

Owies (6 feet, 180 pounds) was a starter on the Australian Under-17 national team in the 2014 FIBA World Championships. He had considerable juniors experience with the same Melbourne Tigers club that Jack Purchase and Jakob Cornelissen played for.

Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa and Washington State were among his other primary suitors.

“Had a couple of offers, but Hawaii just really, really stuck out as as the place to go with the culture and everything there,” Owies said. “So yeah, it was hard to narrow it down but I’m really set and really happy with the decision I made.”

He can sign a binding National Letter of Intent as soon as Nov. 11.

He is just about wrapping up high school ball with St. Kevin’s College and will play with the Dandenong Rangers, which competes at the FIBA amateur level, until it’s time to go to UH next year, he said.

Owies is by no means of formidable stature, but he’s learned how to survive among the trees.

“You really have to learn how to outsmart everyone,” he said. “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 … is a real big thing; when you’re small you need to outsmart all those bigger guys.”

A Q&A from Owies is forthcoming.

Meanwhile, here’s some video of Owies at the 2015 U20 Australian Basketball Championships with the state of Victoria, where Melbourne is located.

Owies again, this time in high school ball with St. Kevin’s College in Melbourne.

Here was Owies at the U17 World Championships with Australia.