May 8, 2007

KENNESAW, Ga. - Head Coach Tony Ingle and the Kennesaw State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced that Nick Mattone will join the Owls basketball program after transferring from Manatee Community College.

"We feel like we have a diamond in the rough in Nick," said Ingle. "He is a versatile guard who can play the point or two. He has experience and maturity coming in as a JUCO transfer and our fans are going to enjoy his toughness and the way he plays the game."

The 6-foot-4-inch, 200 pound guard played one season at East Carolina before his year at Manatee CC. Last season at MCC, Mattone was an all-conference selection and shot 50 percent from the floor and was among the nation's leaders in free-throw percentage (84%) and three-point field goal percentage (46%).

Prior to Manatee CC, Mattone played the 2005-06 season at East Carolina where appeared in nine games for the Pirates. He scored his first college points in his collegiate debut against Old Dominion, connecting on a three-pointer.

Mattone enjoyed a successful prep career at St. Andrew's High School in Barrington, Rhode Island where he scored 1,100 points and had over 500 assists during his career. He was a Street & Smith All-American in his junior and senior year and was a McDonald's All-American after averaging 16 points and six assists in his senior year. Mattone also enrolled in prep school at IMG Academy in Tampa where he averaged 17.5 points per game.

Mattone is Kennesaw State's second signing this season. Head Coach Tony Ingle and the Owls also signed Texas Tech transfer, Jay Mitchell, last week.