Story Photos
 Matt Trautman helped Mark Morris win third place in this year's state playoffs. Daily News file photo
|
Trautman to play for Red Devils next year
Monday, May 12, 2008 11:42 PM PDT
By Rick McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleA 6-foot-7 forward who was a key component in the Mark Morris Monarchs’ state title run has inked a letter of intent to play men’s basketball at Lower Columbia College this fall.
Matt Trautman, who transferred from Kalama High to Mark Morris for his senior year, will be a frontcourt addition in the Red Devils’ offense. He’ll team with returning sophomore Alex King to give them one of the best frontcourt tandems in the NWAACC Western Division.
“Matt has a great upside and has grown a lot from his junior year to senior year,” LCC coach Jim Roffler said. “He’s matured a lot, and it’ll be fun watching him continue to develop. In six months, he could be twice the player he was in high school, and the sky’s the limit.”
Trautman earned all-SWW 1A Trico Division honorable mention as a junior, and was named to the Greater St. Helens 2A League’s second team after averaging nearly 10 points per game. He was also selected Most Valuable Player of the Lower Columbia Area High School All-Star Game after scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
“The decision to come to LCC was easy for me because of the convenience, and Roffler is a great coach,” Trautman said during a recent workout at LCC. “I also wasn’t ready to leave here yet, and playing a year at LCC and then going on sounds good to me.”
Trautman had talked to several other schools before choosing LCC, and is considering a transfer to Columbia University in New York at the conclusion of the 2008-09 school year.
“They want me to play for them next season, and one year at LCC and three years at Columbia will work for me,” Trautman said. “It’s supposed to be one of the best academic colleges in the United States. I’m going to study business or pre-med, I haven’t decided.”
Roffler sees Trautman as a wing player instead of playing in the post with his back to the basket.
“Matt is a nice inside-outside threat who has a good perimeter game for a big guy,” he said. “He’s a pick-and-pop guy on the perimeter with a nice turnaround move inside. He also runs the floor really well for a big guy and can finish the break.”
Trautman also prefers playing the perimeter.
“I can play either the 3, 4 or 5, and for my size I can dribble and shoot pretty well,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll have a good year … I might step up and be ready to assume a leadership role because we won’t have a lot of guys coming back. It’s going to be challenging, but it’ll be a lot of fun.”
MM Grad wrote on May 13, 2008 3:34 PM:
hey MM grad wrote on May 13, 2008 4:18 PM:
Go Mon-Nooks wrote on May 13, 2008 5:17 PM:
doesnt matter wrote on May 13, 2008 8:58 PM:
MM Sudent wrote on May 13, 2008 9:59 PM:
What he did was fine, and we love TRAUT. Hes been a great addition to our team, and he'll do great at LCC!
Thanks for your understatement though! "
Past Month's Most Commented Stories