by Navindra Persaud
When the Central Connecticut men’s basketball team’s star junior guard Kyle Vinales went down with a broken finger, it became imperative for someone else to step up.
Enter freshman guard Matt Mobley.
In the eight games since Vinales went down, Mobley has been averaging 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game with over 10 points in seven of those eight games. He had two such games out of his previous 13.
“More minutes helps,” says Mobley of his success. “I’m getting more minutes and I feel like the coaching staff trusts me so I’m more confident now.”
According to Mobley, Vinales has been quite instrumental in helping him improve his skills and prepare for games this season.
“We’ve worked out a lot, he’s taught me some moves that I’ve used in the game that worked,” says Mobley. “I’ve just learned a lot.”
Born in nearby Worcester, Mass., Mobley fell in love with the game of basketball at the young age of eight, pursuing the game at the encouragement of his parents.
“I always had a basketball in my hands when I was young,” says Mobley, whose favorite NBA player happens to be Russell Westbrook, the point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. “Always just loved it; always went outside and played it.”
Mobley attended St. Peter Marian Junior-Senior High School where he helped the team make state and was named Player of the Year, All-State and an All-Star as a senior.
“It felt good,” says Mobley of the accolades earned his senior year. “I put a lot of hard work in that season and I’m glad that people started to notice.”
Following his time at St. Peter Marian, Mobley was enrolled at Worcester Academy, a prep school in his hometown, before being recruited by Central. For Mobley, the transition to college ball was not that hard.
“I think my prep school helped me out a lot. I was used to the scheduling and practice, so it wasn’t difficult transitioning.” CCSU offered Mobley a spot early in the fall and he committed before the season started.
“It’s a great campus. I love the fans, I love the team, I just love everything about it,” says Mobley, a marketing major. Mobley has seen improvement to his game since his arrival in New Britain.
“I feel like my shot got better, my handling definitely got a lot better than last year and just my overall intensity for the game has increased.”
Mobley, however, believes that he can still work on and improve every aspect of his game as he continues to progress as a college basketball player.
“I just want to be successful, and I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work,” says Mobley. “The work I’ve put in is starting to show a little bit. “
The Northeast Conference has recognized Mobley’s improvement by naming him NEC Rookie of the Week for the last two straight weeks. Despite the Blue Devils struggles this season, Mobley remains optimistic that the team will make the NEC tournament.
“We definitely think we can make a push, we’ve proven that we can play among all of the teams in the NEC,” says Mobley, “So we feel that if we can make the tournament we might be able to make some noise.”
At 6-15 this season, with an NEC record of 2-6, the team has some serious work to do. Mobley adds that every team the Blue Devils play is tough especially after their 18-point comeback win over Robert Morris.
“We have Bryant coming in, they’re second in the NEC so we know they’re going to be tough,” says Mobley.
The Bulldogs will face Mobley and the Blue Devils Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in Detrick Gym.