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Garrison Mathews agrees to two-way deal with Washington Wizards




Former Franklin and Lipscomb standout Garrison Mathews is now a member of the Washington Wizards.MCKENZI HARRIS/LUMINATION NETWORK

Former Franklin and Lipscomb standout Garrison Mathews is now a member of the Washington Wizards.MCKENZI HARRIS/LUMINATION NETWORK

Former Franklin High and Lipscomb guard Garrison Mathews did not hear his name called in the NBA Draft, but he’s still going to get his shot in the league.

The ASUN Player of the Year agreed to a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards immediately following Thursday’s draft.

“I knew Washington liked me a little bit, and we were kind of getting some ideas that I could [be drafted] with a couple picks from some other teams,” he said. “I wasn’t too worried about hearing my name called – I just wanted to get picked up.”

The two-way contract allows Mathews to go back-and-forth between the G-League and the Wizards active roster without counting against the league’s 15-man limit. Two-way players can spend up to 45 days with their NBA team.

“I was getting ready to go to sleep, and my agent called me,” Mathews said. “We had a couple of Exhibit 10 offers and summer league invites, but Washington went ahead and offered me a two-way, so we jumped on it.”

 

 

Mathews rose up NBA boards after scoring 20.8 points per game and shooting 40 percent from three as senior. He averaged 27 points per game during Lipscomb’s run to the NIT championship, including a career-best, 44-point performance in a 94-93 upset of NC State in the quarterfinals.

He worked out for seven teams before the draft, including the Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings. Mathews played in the Portsmouth Invitational in April, drawing attention for his athleticism.

“People don’t realize how much work it takes to get into the NBA,” he said. “You’re flying all across the country for these hour-long workouts and interviews with teams. It’s a grind, but it’s something that’s definitely worth it.”

The Franklin native had just a few college offers coming out of high school. But he dramatically improved his three-point shooting and transformed his football body into a more chiseled frame during his college career.

“[The NBA] is something I never thought was possible until this past year,” he said. “I’m super thankful. I’ve had a ton of people pour into me to make me a better player and a better person.”

Mathews is the leading scorer in Lipscomb’s D-I era with 2,478 career points. He can also become the school’s first alum to appear in an NBA game if he sticks on the Wizards roster.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to represent Lipscomb and give back to them,” he said. “Lipscomb’s done so much for me. I’m so thankful I spent my last four years there.”

Mathews will report to the Wizards next week and fly to Las Vegas to play in the NBA Summer League in early July.

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