Quality player and character

Matt Roth is one of those people who eschews the first-person singular. He’s a “We” guy.

Michael Jordan said “There is no ‘I’ in team, but there is in win.” Matt Roth is a guy who understands that difference on an organic level. He lives it, and while the lack of “I” may limit the West Valley High School senior in conversation, it makes him an exceptional teammate.

“I think everyone looks up to Matt,” first-year coach Jay Humphrey said. “His teammates, especially the younger players, I think look up to him. We even bring him in to our summer camp to help work with the young kids and they all look up to him and he’s great with the little kids.”

Not too shabby with the big kids, either.

The 6-foot-4 wing is the Eagles most reliable scorer, averaging 14.75 points per game. He’s scored 14 points in a game twice, a season-high 16 in the season opener with Moscow and 15 in the team’s last-second win over Sandpoint. And he’s been just as reliable on the boards, putting himself on course to average in double digits in both points and rebounds after pulling down a season-high 17 against Sandpoint.

“Rebounding was something I did try to emphasize last year,” Roth said, reluctantly using a first-person pronoun. “It was important to me that I don’t drop off in that area this year.”

Roth then shifted back into “we.”

“We have to do a better job on the boards as a team,” he said. “We all have to do a better job.”

Roth was a second-team All-Great Northern League selection a year ago, but the Eagles dropped their final two games and missed out on a trip to the state tournament.

This year, Humphrey, who was an assistant to coach Jamie Nilles a year ago, needs Roth to shoulder an even bigger load.

“Last year we kept telling Matt that it was OK to shoot the ball,” the coach said. “He was always willing to pass up his own shot in favor of a teammate. We need him to be more of a shooter this year, but I didn’t have to tell him that. He knew it himself and he’s shooting more.

“Matt has the ability to create his own shot – he’s got great quickness for a kid his size and he’s worked so hard to make himself a better player. His leaping ability is improved – he can dunk the ball easily now. I’m amazed at how much better he’s been able to make himself.”

Roth says he worked hard over the summer – one of the few times he willingly shifts into first-person mode. To a point.

“It’s our senior year and you want to make sure you get everything out of it,” he said. “I worked hard over the summer and I can see now that it’s made a difference. But I think we all did that.”

What you soon realize talking to Roth is that he is genuinely unassuming and dedicated to his teammates. Ask him what he wants to work on over the holiday break and he quickly says “I want to make sure my teammates are having fun. Even when you’re working hard you have to make sure you’re having fun.”

Humphrey points to Roth’s own work ethic as a team standard.

“He’s such a hard worker,” he said. “He’s diligent. He’s always on time and he’s just so dependable.”

And, he adds, he’s genuine.

“Matt is such an unassuming, unselfish kid,” the coach says. “I attribute that to just good parenting. Matt’s parents are good people – his mom is helping to coordinate all of our team dinners this year.”

It would be easy for Roth to point to himself and his family. His father, Mike, is athletic director at Gonzaga University. He’s grown up in the eye of a standout NCAA college basketball program.

“I’ve never really gotten out and played with anyone there,” he said. “But I’ve had the chance to watch them practice and I’ve seen first-hand just how much faster the college game is and how much stronger the players are.”

Mike Roth has helped the team build a relationship with the university. West Valley has played games at the McCarthey Athletic Center in year’s past and the Eagles were able to practice there earlier this month – something that’s left a big impression on the team, Humphrey said.

Matt Roth has a good chance of playing college basketball himself, the coach said.

“He’s got the talent to play at the next level, certainly,” Humphrey said. “Where that will be I don’t know yet. I know he’s talked to the folks out at Whitworth and I got him into Spokane Community College to workout with that program. He’s an excellent student, so I’m sure that will be a factor in any decision he makes.”

What will spell the difference in Roth’s future are exactly those things that make him an excellent teammate now.

“College coaches are looking more and more at a kid’s make-up when they’re out there recruiting,” Humphrey said. “They want the kinds of kids who can play the game, but who aren’t going to be problems down the road. They want kids like Matt, who are quality character kids as well as good basketball players.”

Roth is typically unassuming about his future.

“I would love to play in college if that kind of opportunity presents itself,” he said.