A Matt Simpkins update

Former heralded prepster, 6-foot-9 Matt Simpkins was connected to Nevada at one point last season. This was when he was sitting out the season but attending classes at Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill, CA).

Eventually, both parties moved on and now Simpkins is listed as a member of the Garden City Community College (KA) team.

Here is his resume as listed by Memphis State, the last team Simpkins was on before being booted for a myriad of problems:

Named No. 36 player in the country in RiseMag.com's Fab 50 Basketball Recruits ... Ranked No. 74 by Scouthoops.com ... No. 24 power forward by Scouthoops.com ... No. 80 in Rivals.com ... No. 25 power forward in Rivals.com position rankings ... Rated the No. 70 player in the nation by RiseMag.com in its final 2008 rankings ... In 2007-08, played for head coach Chris Chaney at The Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C. ... Helped the Bulldogs to a 32-2 overall record ... Averaged 17.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.1 blocks for Patterson ... Named to Northern Cal's Best starting five in summer of 2007 by highschoolhoop.com ... In summer of 2007, had 22 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks in second annual Sac vs. Bay Showdown ... Also participated in 2007 Pangos All-American Camp and was the camp's third-leading scorer at 20.3 ppg ... Highest scoring game at camp was a 33-point performance (second to Brandon Jennings' 36 points at the camp) ... Was named MVP of the showdown's underclass game ... As a junior at Berkeley in 2006-07, helped lead the Yellowjackets to a 21-7 overall record and a 12-2 Alameda Contra Costa League mark ... Berkeley won the league regular season title ... Selected to the California All-State Junior second team by calhisports.com ... In summer of 2006, ranked among the top 10 players at the Adidas Camp (one of two 2008 recruits in the top 10) ... As a sophomore in 2005-06, averaged 16.7 points, 12.8 rebounds and 6.2 blocks for Capital Christian

Here's a link about Simpkins' departure from Memphis State. Yes, he will get another shot or two as someone is always willing to take (another) chance. Could it be a WAC team?

A Matt Simpkins update

It's probably not 'news' at this point but former prep wunderkind Matt Simpkins, whose basketball promise and personal issues have had him playing all around the country since his freshman year in high school, is no longer headed to Nevada.

The latest plan was for Matt Simpkins to get his academics in order at Diablo Valley College and then head up to Reno on a Nevada basketball scholarship.

Call this detour #45732.

That's because he was recently jailed Memphis (in December), Nevada has moved on (this may have happened even prior to the latest trouble -- we don't know) and another opportunity to display his skills and earn a college education has been squandered.

Go here.

It's never to late to grow up and turn matters around but the first step is quit deepening the hole you're digging/have dug. At this point, Simpkins needs to focus on and resurrect his life, period. Forget about basketball maybe altogether but certainly at least until some personal progress and stability have been established.

But enough moralizing. Let's move on.