Athlete of the Week - Isaac Matti, Hayfield Boys Basketball

HAYFIELD, Minn. (KTTC) – Things are going pretty well for Hayfield Boys basketball.

“Got great kids, I mean they’ve been really good,” Chris Pack, Hayfield Head Boys Basketball coach said.

Coach Pack and the Vikings are 19-1 in their state title defending season.

“When they play the way they can, the way they should they’re a fun team to watch and a tough team to play against I’m sure,” Pack said.

Hayfield brought back four starters from that title team, but lost star Ethan Slaathaug to graduation.

Filling his spot is an opportunity many would walk through the door of, but Isaac Matti slammed through it.

“I got to look to score more, be a little bit less passive I guess, but it wasn’t hard. I knew it would come so I just had to embrace it,” Isaac Matti said.

That’s exactly what he’s done, Matti leads the team with 21 points per game to go along with four assists.

“He’s not dominating the ball, if the play calls for him to kick it out he’s more than willing to do that and he just makes winning plays and does whatever it takes for our team to succeed,” Pack said.

He’s transitioned smoothly into the point guard spot, a testament to his work ethic.

“No one puts in more time than Isaac, he’s always in the gym and in the weight room and working to improve his craft,” Pack said.

An attribute which comes from his family.

“My grandpa’s a baller. We go out to Kramer’s shed and ball all the time. We were just there yesterday, he loves the game so does my dad, they help me a lot,” Pack said.

Matti’s grandfather is a former coach at Hayfield and his dad coaches at Byron both have a played a huge role in his development.

“They help me out with tips and things. They’ve been telling me this all along like you’re going to have to be the guy someday so they’ve really instilled that in me,” Matti said.

That guy is exactly what he’s been, with a game that speaks for itself.

“He brings it every night, just his effort every practice, every game.”

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