Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

high school basketball:

Palo Verde’s Nahjee Matlock transitioning from star on hardwood to track

Junior guard has state-best time in 100 meters of 10.79 seconds

Palo Verde vs Centennial

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Palo Verde High guard Nahjee Matlock (10), making a pass this winter against Centennial, has the state’s best time in the 100 meters this spring at 10.79 seconds.

Palo Verde High sprinter Nahjee Matlock’s state-best time of 10.74 seconds in the 100-meter dash came as no surprise to Jermone Riley.

Riley, who coaches Matlock on the Panthers’ basketball team, saw the 5-foot-11 junior guard’s speed on display multiple times this winter. It’s a big reason why a young Palo Verde squad advanced to the Sunrise Regional semifinals.

“We play an up-tempo style and try to hit our guards early in the offense,” Riley said. “His speed plays into our favor, because he’s able to get up the floor sometimes before the ball. That makes it hard for other teams to defend.”

In a city with a number of top-notch athletes, Matlock has made his case for being one of the best.

A three-sport athlete, he averaged 14 points per game this winter in basketball and started at defensive back on the perennial power Panthers football team. Considering Matlock hadn’t played football since the seventh grade, being a key contributor on a respected team such as Palo Verde was quite an accomplishment.

Next year, he will likely start on both sides of the ball, with coaches looking to use his speed on offense at running back and wide receiver.

“My goal is to make it to college to play basketball. I did football to help me get better,” he said. “Football definitely helped get me ready for basketball.”

In track, something he picked up last year to stay sharp for basketball, Matlock’s inexperience has at times been obvious. Still, he has been able to post 100-meter times of 11.14, 10.94 and 11.44 seconds. He also competes at 200 meters, where his personal best is 21.94 seconds, and is part of two relay teams.

“He is just blowing guys away in track,” Riley said.

Even though he’s proven this track season that sprinting at the next level is a viable option, his dreams of college basketball haven’t changed. Riley has talked to a few basketball coaches interested in recruiting him, but there has been little progress.

Matlock knows his speed will only take him so far on the hardwood.

He needs to add bulk to his 160-pound frame and has to work on his jump shot and ball-handling abilities. Whether it’s track to increase his speed or football to improve his strength and aggressiveness, Matlock’s dedication can’t be questioned.

“I’m working to be a better all-round player,” he said. “I just need to keep working on my game.”

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