Matt Myers, a fourth-year Clipper, has been named team captain for the 2010-2011 men's basketball team.

The 6'5" guard from Olympia, Wash., played his high school ball at Northwest Christian High School, where he was a junior and senior first team all-league award-winner. In his senior year, Matt earned all-state honours as he averaged 16 points, seven rebounds, and five assists per game.

Myers spent two seasons playing for the Trinity Western Spartans in Canadian Interuniversity Sport before making the move to Briercrest. While at TWU, he averaged eight points, two rebounds, and one assist per game, with 45 per cent three-point shooting. During his second season with the Spartans, he won a Canada West Bronze Medal.

Since coming to Briercrest last year, Matt has been a natural leader on the court. He averaged 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game last season and was one of the assistant team captains.

Myers chose to come to Briercrest because he saw it as a great place to study the Bible, play basketball, and be a part of something bigger than himself.

So far, he hasn't been disappointed.

“The opportunity to play basketball at Briercrest has been a huge blessing," he said. "It’s rare to find an institution where you are pushed to raise the bar in every area of your life.

"Every day I am surrounded by coaches, professors, friends, faculty and a community that genuinely cares about each other and is most concerned with seeing lives changed for the better!”

His life has also been affected by moving to the Prairies, joking that “living through a Saskatchewan winter has forever changed me!”

Myers describes himself as someone who “loves playing team basketball and looking to set up my teammates for an easy bucket. I’m also one of the bigger guards in the ACAC, so there is an advantage for shooting and passing over top of defenders.”

Myers' teammates naturally look to him for leadership.

“I was simply chosen because my teammates believe in me”, Myers said. “It’s a beautiful thing to have the support of your team!”

Myers said he looks forward to leading with his two assistant captains, Gradyn Childerhose and Justin Wolverton, who were also appointed by the team.

“I love that I can lead with two guys who set the standard high on the team and in their own lives.”

Coach Gene Wolverton said Myers was chosen for obvious reasons: “He is a natural leader that the guys look up to and want to follow.”

Wolverton has high expectations for his captain to lead by example.

“I expect that he will model the way for his teammates both on and off the court, he will be a support to me as coach, and that he will put the teams’ interests ahead of his own.”

Myers looks forward to the challenge of leading a talented young Clipper team towards their purpose of winning an ACAC and CCAA Championship.

“I know hard work is the only way to accomplish anything, and we have a great team (which) is ready to do just that!”

 When not playing basketball, Matt loves to play ping pong and FIFA 2011. When he is done his time at Briercrest, he has plans to go travelling in Europe, South America, or Asia.