Wings Up Player Profiles: Matt Elmore

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — For Matt Elmore, the trip to UNCW wasn’t far from his hometown, but the stage couldn’t be more different.

“It’s definitely going to be a lot different,” Elmore said. “Coming from a small school I never really played in front of big crowds, so whenever how Trask is packed is going to be crazy.”

The freshman from Jacksonville recognizes the big stage he’s stepping into and know he’ll have some supporters in the crowd, but he’s not going to let that add any pressure.

“Most of the people that would come to see me, have seen me my whole basketball career, so they know what I can do,” Elmore said. “They’re just excited to see me play on the big stage.”

The big stage of NCAA basketball can be a lot to take on for a young player. Elmore said the physicality and speed of the game will also be a difficult transition from Dixon High School to the college level, but he knows he can still make an impact.

“I can play down low and I can shoot the three,” Elmore said. “Definitely I can help the team in that way.”

Coming to play for the Seahawks was an easy choice to make, if based strictly on location, but for Elmore it was about more than being close to family.

“Coach Keatts, his pitch he gave to me, the team when I met them and all the coaching staff,” Elmore said. “I just felt a connection right away.”

That connection with the team, especially with teammates Chuck Ogbodo and Marcus Bryan helps the young forward continue to work during some of the early learning curves.

“Whenever I get down on myself they tell me to lift my head up and they make me keep pushing myself,” Elmore said.

His teammates along with his drive to continue the winning ways for the team keeps him pushing harder.

“It definitely makes me want to work harder, makes me want to give 100% every day and just give it all I can,” Elmore said.

It’ll be all about that hard work when the lights are on and all these seats are filled with screaming Seahawks fans.

UNCW takes on UVA this Thursday at 12:40 p.m. The game will be broadcast on truTV.