By ROBERT L. LEE

NEW ORLEANS – Former Reserve Christian standout, Matt McGee, is taking his talent to New Orleans and Loyola University’s hardwood. Although being forced to sit out the first 12 games of the 32-game season because of ankle surgery, McGee has begun playing Wolfpack basketball with renewed vigor.

“We are very proud of him, his goal was always to play college ball and we are so happy he’s had this opportunity,” said his mother Rudy McGee.

Upon being accepted by the Loyola team, McGee, 18, decided to end the problems he had for the prior few years with his ankle with surgery. His mother said ligaments in his ankle had stretched so far during his high school years, he had to have the surgery to retighten them. “But, I can’t believe how fast he’s healed,” she added.

“He’s been practicing with us over the summer, but we’ve been anxious to get him back playing,” said Brett Simpson from Loyola. “He’s a tough kid who plays bigger than what he is, both on the inside and outside. We like the fact that he has the ability to play different positions, and he’s very valuable to us.”

Simpson said McGee was signed on as a guard/forward and is one of six new freshmen to make up one of the best groups to be recruited onto the team.

“He’s come from a good program and was well coached,” continued Simpson. “Plus he’s a great kid who will fit into out system as a team player. It would be unfair to our other kids if he didn’t.” He said since McGee has joined the Wolfpack, he has blended in with the rest of the team and all of the coaches like his approach to things.

After missing the games before the holidays, the coaches were concerned about McGee being in shape and secure with his ankle. Simpson said they were all hoping he would use the holidays to continue working out and learning new plays to keep him on track with the rest of the team.

“He still has some more to go before he is 100 percent,” said his mother, “but he is taking it step by step and we’ll see where he goes from here.”

McGee said her son would love to follow in Kobe Bryant’s footsteps and play professional ball, but being only 6-foot, 4-inches tall, he is somewhat short by professional standards. If McGee doesn’t land on the court for a professional team, he plans to complete his college career with a Marketing degree.

Already, McGee has a shining past career, lettering for four years in basketball for Reserve Christian as a forward and center, as well as being chosen all-District, all-Metro, all-River Parish, all-State and District MVP.

McGee averaged 14 points per game for the Eagles, with a career high of 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds per game with a high of 18 rebounds.

He also lettered one year in baseball, playing first base and outfield, lettered one year in track and competed in the state championship. The highlight of his high school career was making the all-State team for basketball.