Buckhorn senior Matt Day (seated at center) signed his letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Virginia at Wise at the Buckhorn High School library on Friday. Pictured in the front row, from left to right: Matt’s father, Nathan Day, grandfather Fred Day, Matt Day, grandmother Elsie Day and mother Phyliss. Back row: UVA-Wise Coach Lee Clark, Buckhorn Coach John Noble and UVA-Wise Assistant Coach Eric Swords.

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Buckhorn senior Matt Day is ready to take his talents on the basketball court to the next level, and made that official on Friday as he signed to become the newest member of the UVA-Wise Cavaliers basketball team.

Day, who averaged a double-double during each of his high school seasons, said he wanted to go to a school where he could work to impact the team during his freshman year.

“I think going to Wise is the best for me and my family,” Day said, “and just being able to come in and play right off, if I come in and work hard I think I’ll be able to.”

Day noted that the Cavaliers will already have a talented team on the court with their returning players and other freshman recruits, and he is looking forward to a successful season in Virginia.

UVA-Wise Coach Lee Clark credited his assistant coach, Eric Swords, with bringing Day’s talents to the coach’s attention.

“He kept saying, ‘This kid’s a winner,’ and he kept reiterating that every time we talked about him,” Clark said, adding that when he watched Day play this past season, he decided that Day would be a good fit at UVA-Wise.

“Matt has a good skill set for a 6’ 6” player,” Clark continued. “We like the fact that he can shoot the three ball, we’re really excited about that.”

Clark described Day as a versatile player who will continue to develop over the next few years and be “great for our program.”

Buckhorn Coach John Noble, who coached Day for the past four years, described Day’s signing with UVA-Wise as terrific not only for Day, but for his family and friends as well.

“We’re thrilled,” Noble said. “Everybody here is really excited. He’s going to be relatively close to home, and we’ll get a chance to see him play.”

As for Day, playing without his teammates will be an adjustment, especially without his fellow seniors, with whom he has played since elementary school.

“It will be a little bit of an adjustment,” he admitted. “I’m going to miss them, not being able to see them every day. We’re more like brothers than we are teammates and friends.”

This month, however, will continue to be an exciting one for Day. As one of five finalists for Kentucky Mr. Basketball, he will attend a banquet next weekend, at which time this year’s Mr. Basketball will be announced.