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football Edit

Mount Olive Lands Green Runs Matin

"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Before the 2013-14 basketball season started, not too
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many people around the state of Virginia knew about Green Run 6-foot-4 wing
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Jamaal Matin.
style=> During the spring and summer, he didn't play
on a high-profile AAU travel team. As a
junior, he showed improvement for the Stallions, but was more of a role player.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>By the time his senior season rolled around, it was now
or never to make his mark and enhance his chances of playing on the next
level. Matin
took full advantage and helped lead Green Run to a 22-5 record, their first
20-win season since 1995. Along with
that came the Conference 9 Tournament Championship and the Stallions' first
region playoff victory since 2004.
115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Matin
style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
got noticed for his play, and as a result, received a scholarship to play
College Basketball and will do so for Coach
normal'>Joey Higginbotham and the University
of Mount Olive, a well-established Division II program
located in North Carolina.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"Jamaal is very excited about the opportunity to go to
Mount Olive. They wanted him and viewed
him as an integral piece to their puzzle.
They're getting a diligent worker who has shown a lot of self-discipline
as well as the desire to continue to improve both on and off the court,"
commented Green Run Head Basketball Coach Kenneth
Harris.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"There were times where we as a coaching staff even bounced
some things off of him in our game-planning and preparation because his
basketball IQ is so sharp. That senior
class that he was apart of truly meant so much to us and was the foundation to
our basketball program at Green Run High School.
style=> His versatility was paramount in our success
and I see him as someone that will do a variety of things for Mount Olive."
115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Matin
style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>
was a First Team All-Conference selection and chosen Second Team All-Region in
5A-South this past season, averaging 14 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and
2.4 steals per game. Although the
Stallions' season finished one win shy of a State Tournament berth in a
regional semifinal loss to Maury, it was arguably one of his finest
performances with 22 points on 10-of-19 shooting, eight rebounds and three
blocks.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"Jamaal was the glue to our team and in my opinion one
of the most improved players in the state this year," Harris stated.
style=> "Even though he played out of position at
times and had to handle the ball at the point some, he still remained very effective
on the offensive end, plus did a really good job of being able to defend any
position on the floor at the other end. The
energy he plays with is contagious and having him on the floor made us feel
like we always had a chance to win."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>In six years under Higginbotham as Head Coach, the Trojans
have gone 111-59 (.653). This past
season, Mount Olive finished 19-9 overall and 12-4 in conference play,
finishing atop the standings.
Higginbotham is a Chesapeake, Virginia native that graduated from
Atlantic Shores.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"Coach Higginbotham has built a highly successful
program and really cares about his players, many of which come from Virginia
and the Hampton Roads area," Harris added.
style=> "I think it's a tremendous fit and we're going
to see Jamaal continue to grow and blossom as a player."
"Verdana","sans-serif"'> 
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-decoration:none;text-underline:
none'>Matthew Hatfield
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>
serves as State Basketball Analyst for
href="http://www.virginiapreps.com">
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>VirginiaPreps.com
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>, part of the Rivals.com
Network. Check out
href="http://www.twitter.com/hatfieldsports">
normal'>
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>Hatfield's Twitter page
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> for more sports related updates,
and you can also read his work in the
href="http://www.suffolknewsherald.com">
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>Suffolk News Herald
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>.
To contact Matthew, please e-mail
href="mailto:hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com">
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>, and don't forget to listen to him
on High School Sports Talk from 10AM to Noon on
href="http://www.espnradio941.com/">
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text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>ESPN Radio 94.1
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>, plus watch him on the
href="http://www.cox11.com">
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text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>Cox 11 Sports Report
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