By Steve Carpenter - Hutchinson CC Sports Information
During his freshman season at Hutchinson Community College, forward Matt Mayers was just trying to figure college basketball out.
The 6-foot-7 New York State product learned his lessons well.
Mayers' sophomore season was a breakout one in leading Hutchinson back to the NJCAA Tournament. Mayers' performance in 2021 landed him on the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball All-America first team on Wednesday.
Mayers is the 13th Blue Dragon to become a first-team All-American and 34th overall All-American. He is also the seventh first-team All-American to be coached by Steve Eck, who stepped down in April.
2021 NJCAA Division I All-America Basketball Teams
Mayers and Cowley's Dalen Ridgnal were Jayhawk Conference first-team All-Americans. Tylor Perry of Coffeyville was a second-team All-American. Independence's Tim Dalger was an honorable mention selection.
As a freshman, Mayers played just 6.7 minutes per game with averages of 3.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Mayers dedicated himself over the off season to be in better shape and work on his skills.
When the 2021 season finally started in late January, Mayers was a changed player. He had 22 points and 11 rebounds in the season opener against Seminole State.
The great performances just kept on coming for the sophomore from Hastings-On-Hudson, New York.
When the season was completed after the second round of the NJCAA Tournament, Mayers averaged 17.8 points per game, which was sixth in the KJCCC. Mayers was third in the Jayhawk Conference in field-goal percentage at 59.6 percent and fifth in rebounding at 9.4 boards per game.
Mayers finished with 12 double-doubles this season, including a stretch of nine-straight games with a double-double.
Within that stretch of nine-straight double-doubles, Mayers had one of the best individual all-time games in Blue Dragon history when he scored fourth most points in Hutchinson single-game history (44) at Cowley on Feb. 17. That included a single-game team record 15 field goals and 14 free throws, which tied for sixth most in single-game history.
Later in the season, Mayers posted a career-high 17 rebounds against Pratt, which tied for ninth most in single-game Blue Dragon history.
Mayers was named the KJCCC Division I Player of the Week in Week No. 1 for his double-double against Seminole State on Jan. 22 and was named KJCCC Player of the Week for the second time and the NJCAA National Player of the Week on Feb. 17 after his performance against Cowley College.
Last month, Mayers was named the Jayhawk West Most Valuable Player. Mayers, in conference games, averaged 18.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest in helping the Blue Dragons capture the 2021 Jayhawk West title and reach the 2021 Region VI Tournament championship game.