Friday, January 28, 2000
Moeller star has major choices
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Moeller junior Matt Sylvester has a tough decision to make. Cincinnati, Dayton, Xavier and Utah all have made offers for him to play basketball.
“I'm not leaning toward anyone. It's wide open,” the 6-foot-7 Sylvester said. “Right now, I attend as many (UC, XU and Dayton) games as possible. I plan to make visits and decide after the season.”
Sylvester is the son of former Moeller and University of Dayton standout Mike Sylvester.
“Matt's a big kid who will get bigger,” Moeller coach Carl Kremer said. “He's an outstanding passer, dribbler and shooter. There's not a whole lot of players who do all three.” ”
Sylvester developed his skills while growing up in Italy where his father played professionally for Virtuss, a team based in Balonia.
After retiring from basketball in 1991, Mike Sylvester moved the family to Loveland and started coaching at an elementary school.
“Dad coached me starting in the second grade through the sixth,” Sylvester said. “Although I was always the tallest player, he put me at point guard.”
At the point, Sylvester developed good ball handling and passing skills, along with a perimeter shot.
This summer, Sylvester participated in the Nike Camp at Indianapolis, where he performed before more than 100 college coaches.
“I got to see how I compared to the best players in the nation,” Sylvester said. “I learned I have to get stronger and quicker. During the summer, I plan to put time in the weight room and jump rope to get quicker.”
The only returning starter from Moeller's 1999 Division I state championship team, Sylvester is the team's leader.
In 13 games, he's averaging a Cincinnati-best 22.8 points while pulling down nearly eight rebounds and four assists.
Sylvester is 16-of-35 from 3-point range. He also shoots 79 percent from the free throw line.
“I've never had a player who has posted the all-around numbers like Matt,” Kremer said. “I've probably asked him to do too much but he's handled it pretty well and assumed the leadership.
It was during Moeller's summer league between his freshman and sophomore years that Sylvester started developing into a standout player.
“Matt had some good games and some bad ones as a sophomore,” Kremer said. “He came alive during the tournament and had big game after big game.”
With Sylvester improving, there was less pressure on former point guard Mike Monserez, who now plays for Notre Dame.
“We were down 18 at halftime against Beavercreek in the regional championship game,” Kremer said. “Matt scored 13 in the second half and we came back and won.”
Sylvester expects to commit to one of the four college choices before the summer. Although his dad played for Dayton, he's trying not to let that influence his decision.
“Dad wants me to do what is best for me,” Sylvester. “He hasn't tried pushing Dayton on me.”
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