PREPS: A Q&A with San Marcos basketball player Matt Meyers

By JOHN MAFFEI - Staff Writer | Monday, January 5, 2009 3:08 PM PST ∞

Matt Meyer has scored 20 points or more three times this season for the San Marcos boys basketball team. Photo by Hayne Palmour IV - Staff photographer.

Matt Meyers

School: San Marcos

Sports: Football, basketball

Positions: Defensive end (football), post (basketball)

Born: March 15, 1990 in Poway

Year: Senior

Accomplishments: Second-team all-league in football.

Quick hits

TV show I never miss: "SportsCenter "

I wish I knew how to ...: Surf

Name of my first pet: Maggie

Person I'd like to have dinner with: Angelina Jolie

Hot dogs or hamburgers: Hamburgers

Leno or Letterman: Leno

NBA or NFL: NFL

Favorite movie: "Step Brothers"

Favorite athlete: LeBron James

Favorite team: Kansas Jayhawks

At 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Matt Meyers is easy to spot, whether on the football field or the basketball court.

He was a pass-rushing force as a defensive end in football. In basketball, he plays the post for the 10-4 Knights and has scored 20-plus points three times already this season ---- 24 against Hercules, 23 against Brea Olinda in the Holiday Classic and 20 against archrival Mission Hills on Saturday.

All those games were after the Knights returned from a week-long trip to Maui.

The Knights open Valley League play Friday at Orange Glen.

Q: How was the trip to Maui?

A: It was great, a lot of fun. We went snorkeling, cliff diving, went to a luau. And the weather was 80 degrees every day.

Q: Did the players raise the funds for the trip or did the school pay?

A: Oh, we paid for it. We had magazine drives, sold tickets to the Buick Invitational, sold entertainment books. It was hard. It cost about $1,500. But it was well worth it.

Q: Didn't you guys do this a couple of years ago?

A: Yes, we went my sophomore year. But this was more fun. I enjoyed this more because I was a scared sophomore back then. This time, I was able to enjoy Hawaii, but we were also more successful as a team (going 3-1). My game has developed since we were there before; I know my game better. I know my strengths and weaknesses better.

Q: What was the competition like?

A: There were 16 teams, and they were all good. We took third place, and that was pretty good.

Q: I understand your flights were a nightmare.

A: Going over, we went from San Diego to Phoenix to Maui. And our flight was delayed 2 1/2 hours. Coming back, we took a red-eye, flying to Phoenix, then to San Diego. We got home about 9 a.m. It was a long flight with a layover in Phoenix. It was crazy to fly past San Diego to Phoenix. But the flight was a lot cheaper by doing that.  

Q: You hurt your foot on the trip. Tell me about that.

A: We went cliff diving after our last game, a team-bonding thing. The water was about 30 feet below the cliffs. I wasn't going to do it, but the guys egged me on. I went feet first and hit the bottom of my foot on a rock. I knew right away I hurt something. I crawled back to shore.

Q: But you didn't miss a game, right?

A: Our trainers took great care of me. I couldn't push off in our first game in the MaxPreps tournament. But I played (and scored 24 points).

Q: Your coach, Dante Carey, says you use your size well. Is that instinctive or learned?

A: I've grown into my body. I use the weightroom a lot, and I need it. I'd love to get quicker.

Q: Do you like banging inside with the big men?

A: I love it.

Q: Do you carry a football mentality into basketball?

A: Oh yeah. I have a big-kid's mind-set. I've always had the desire to overpower an opponent. My thought is teams shouldn't be able to control a big, athletic man in the key.

Q: How long did it take you to transition from football to basketball?

A: About three weeks. I was pretty bruised up from football. I really needed to get my legs in shape. The gridiron to the hardwood are two totally different sports. Football is a strength game. In basketball, you're always running. I actually went out and ran on the track to get in shape for basketball.

Q: Do you consider yourself a football player or a basketball player?

A: Both. I love football. But I love basketball, too. My favorite sport is whatever is in season.

Q: How was the transition this year with new football coach Pulu Poumele?

A: He's the greatest. He knows what he's doing. He played at Arizona and in the NFL. He yells when he has to, but he's a very positive guy. With Pulu as head coach, the program will be good. I'm positive of that. He came from Oceanside. Hopefully, San Marcos will be the next Oceanside.

Q: So you think the program is going in the right direction despite a 2-8 record?

A: Oh yeah. The freshman team went 9-1, so the talent is coming.

Q: Back to basketball, what is this team's ceiling?

A: This is the team we've been waiting for since our freshman year. A lot of us have been together since we went 23-0 in the eighth grade. We were good as freshmen and on the JV. Our goal is to win a CIF title. There may be some bumps in the road, but I think we can pull it off. Honestly, I think San Marcos has the talent to be a powerhouse in all sports in the next year or so.

Q: Would you like to play beyond high school? If so, what sport will you choose?

A: I'll definitely play something. If I decide on football, I'll play at Palomar College. They want me, and they have a good program. If I choose basketball, it will probably be Miramar College. Right now, I'm just not sure what direction I'll go.