Beware of 'Dog': Norman senior finds his aggressive nature, becomes a driving force for Tigers
By Michael Kinney
NORMAN - By his estimation, much of Matthew Willenborg’s basketball career has been underwhelming.
During the first few years, he says he has played with a less aggressive nature.
However, that came to an end before his senior season at Norman High. Willenborg said he discovered his inner ‘dog,’ and become the player he’s always wanted to be.
“It means I just got to play as hard as possible. Be a dog,” Willenborg said. “You know how dogs are like vicious. You got to be vicious.”
Willenborg has been one of the driving forces for Norman High this season. He has teamed with Trashaun Combs-Pierce and Caison Cole to power the Tigers into the top 10 in Class 6A during parts of the season.
Yet, coming out of his junior campaign, Willenborg could never have seen himself in this position. Despite his height and skill set, the 6-foot-8, 190-pound post admits he played timidly.
“I've been playing more physical,” Willenborg said. “I used to be timid, I didn't use to post up as much.
"But I definitely fit the role now as a four-man, and I can post up and play all around.”
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It wasn’t as if Willenborg just went to the weight room and got bigger. He noted the change was all mental.
“It was just a mindset. I really had to get in the mindset before I play,” Willenborg said. “Because if you think scared, you're going to play scared. So, I just had to get out of it and my coach (Cory Cole) pushed me through it.”
Willenborg entered this season realizing he could play bully ball with any team and began to play with an aggressive mindset.
In a recent game against Edmond Santa Fe, Willenborg took a pass from more than 40 feet out from the basket and drove it straight to the rim for a thunderous dunk that caused his teammates on the bench to jump up and his coach to punch the air twice. Instead of an outlier, this has become the norm for him.
This was not the type of play Willenborg would have made in previous years.
“I definitely realized coming out, I could definitely push people around now and putting on more weight; that made me feel like nobody could stop me,” Willenborg said. “It feels amazing.
"I get multiple chances at the rim. I could also make plays for my teammates.”
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Yet, Willenborg can still drain 3-pointers from deep, run the court and defend the rim. He has turned himself into the type of all-around player he could never have envisioned.
“I definitely could never have imagined this,” Willenborg said. “I definitely thought I was strictly a shooter until I came here, and they turned me into multiple other things.”
College programs have also noticed the change in Willenborg’s game. He says the recruitment has picked up some during the season with teams like William Jewell (Mo.) showing interest.
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Willenborg is currently uncommitted, but plans to sign with some program in April.
Before then, Willenborg wants to lead the Tigers to their first championship since 1999.
“It's my last season,” Willenborg said. “I want to play as hard as I can, leave nothing on the floor and help my team get wins and get the state championship.”
Norman improved to 14-7 on Tuesday after a 60-53 road win at Stillwater. The Tigers end the regular season Friday at Edmond Memorial; then on Feb. 24, Norman returns home for its opening regional tournament game, taking on U.S. Grant.
