Just like Nikola Jokić: How a former Shore basketball star became the 'D3 Joker'
He's 6-foot-7 and can be seen posting up in the paint but former Manasquan High School basketball star Matt Solomon also brings the ball up the court on occasion - like a point guard - for Division 3 The College of New Jersey. Solomon gets the offense started and knows how to make dime passes to his teammates. Defensively, he alters shots and acts like the quarterback.
Naturally, his teammates say the sophomore is TCNJ's version of NBA all-star Nikola Jokić - while opponents have been largley at a loss in negating Solomon's effectiveness.
TCNJ heading into Wednesday's home game against Rowan is 14-4 and tied with Stockton for first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (8-3 league records). Solomon is averaging 12.1 points and 9.6 rebounds.
A team trip to Greece last spring is what sparked the idea of having Solomon increase his ball handling - fitting, with Jokic' also being an overseas player.
“He’s obsessed with the (Denver) Nuggets. He watches Joker all the time,” said TCNJ head coach Matt Goldsmith. “So we just started telling him he’s the D3 Joker. He’s our point forward."
Solomon started off the season with a triple-double and hasn't looked back. He grabbed NJAC Player of the Week honors back in December; as a freshman he was a two-time NJAC Rookie of the Week winner.
More: NJ's most entertaining college basketball team sparked by Shore Conference alums
Matt Solomon, Ryan Jenson and the Manasquan-TCNJ connection
In a 72-59 win over New Jersey City University Saturday, Solomon had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds with three assists.
Solomon - whose mom, Grace Paterno-Solomon, was a Wagner Hall of Fame player with 1,328 points and 834 rebounds - said another former Manasquan High School star helped influence his decision to attend TCNJ.
“Coach Goldsmith is a great coach (and) Ryan Jenson went to my high school and he also came to TCNJ,” said Solomon. “I kind of just wanted to follow in his footsteps just in the way he played. He’s one of the best rebounders I ever watched. As a kid, going to Manasquan games and see him killing it, and when I had the chance, I talked to him about and he helped me pick this school.”
Solomon had an immediate impact, starting 17 games as a freshman and every game this season.
“Typically it’s two things, it’s speed and strength,” said Goldsmith on what players usually struggle with when first playing college ball. “Big thing with Matt was he’s as tough as they come. So the strength piece did not bother him last year as a freshman, which has really helped his development as a sophomore.”
Championship dreams
Aside from making passes to his teammates, Solomon has grown to be a leader and a positive figure for TCNJ. Both his coaches and teammates are excited for what’s to come, especially with a versatile big man on their roster.
“At the end of his freshman year, last spring we voted for captains for this year - and he was unanimously voted as a sophomore," Goldsmith said. "That never happens. For his character, that speaks for everything you need to know right there.”
“Matt’s definitely a big part of the team,” said freshman TCNJ point guard and Saddle River Day graduate David Alexandre, who had 17 points against New Jersey City on Saturday. “He controls the offense, he see’s everything, he’s pretty much our center to be honest with you.”
Ramapo in 2018 was the last NJAC team to reach the Final Four of the NCAA Division 3 Men’s Basketball Championship tournament.
Solomon said that might be something to think about - but not now.
“The team goal is obviously, I think like every college team, is to win a national championship,” said Solomon. “But for us right now it’s taking it one game at a time.”
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Matt Solomon: Former Manasquan basketball star leads TCNJ
