.Matt Mooney, the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year in the Mountain West Conference, will transfer from Air Force to South Dakota and join the Coyote men’s basketball team
. South Dakota head coach Craig Smith made the announcement Wednesday.
Mooney, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 19 minutes and nearly seven points per game as a freshman for Air Force (14-17) this past season. He played in 29 games and earned eight starts. Mooney finished second on the team in steals with 24, and was fifth in assists with 52. He shot 44 percent from the field (74-165) and 38 percent from downtown (29-75).
“We are excited to add Matt to our program,” said Smith. “He is a great young man who understands what it means to be a student-athlete at the highest level. Matt’s versatility and playmaking ability on the perimeter, along with being a highly competitive player, make him a great fit for our program.”
Mooney graduated Summa Cum Laude from Notre Dame College Prep near Chicago where he averaged 18 points, six rebounds and four assists per game his senior year. He was named team MVP, earned all-state accolades for head coach Tom Les and was a two-time all-conference player for the Dons.
Mooney played in 22 games and averaged 11 points and 2.7 rebounds at the USAFA Prep School. He finished third on the team with 35 steals and fifth with 46 assists.
