Duke University Product Erin Mathias Continues to Shine in Hoops and Photography

Erin Mathias is a 2014 graduate of Fox Chapel High School and is currently a veteran professional basketball player in Luxembourg. Mathias is someone who has been in the spotlight since she was a teenager as she was regarded as one of the top girls hoopers in America during her high school career.

(Photos submitted by Erin Mathias and were taken by Duke University Athletics and Gianni Nucci)

According to ESPN, she was rated a five-star recruit, held a 97 grade, and was ranked the 39 overall recruit in the nation for the high school graduating class of 2014. While the Allegheny County product likely had almost every school in America after her, she decided the opportunity to become a Duke Blue Devil was an athletic and educational experience she could not pass up on.

“Duke was the right fit for me for two pretty obvious reasons,  the athletics and academics are top tier. I knew that graduating from Duke would be a good look when applying for jobs down the road, and I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to play in Cameron Indoor Stadium.”

Since 2010, she’s been in the limelight as she guided the Western PA Bruins to a Junior National Championship for the first time. The next year, she would help the club repeat as Junior National Champions while also being invited to the 2011 U16 USA Basketball National Team Trials. In her freshman season of basketball, she averaged 10.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game. She also racked up 13 double-doubles and 16 double-digit performances in the 2010-11 season. Some strong individual performances would even include a 20 point game against Penn Hills and a 31 rebound performance against Franklin Regional. Her future was bright, but there was a twist in store.

As a high school sophomore, she was forced to miss the entirety of the season, but it was not something that would deter her from two outstanding seasons as an upperclassmen at Fox Chapel. In her junior season, she ended with averages of 17.3 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.8 blocks and 1.4 steals. She also had 17 double-doubles and back-to-back games in which she notched triple-doubles. As if this was not enough, her senior season would fare even better.

The Pittsburgh native was named the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year, Miss Pennsylvania Basketball, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette WPIAL Class AAAA Player of the Year for the second straight season,  a Class AAAA All-State First Team, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review Terrific 10 and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab 5 for the second time each, won the KDKA Extra Effort Award, and she became a two-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette WPIAL Class AAA All-Section Team selection. However, there were still four more years of college ahead for the WPIAL stand out.

Her freshman season at Duke was one filled with growth and making an adjustment to a role coming off of the bench. She appeared in 27 games with her best game being an 11 point and 6 boards performance against the University at Buffalo. It was a game where she showed what she was capable of for her future in Division I basketball.

In her sophomore season, she drew her first three career college starts and played in 30 more games. It was another season filled with individual growth and would set her up for a solid final two seasons playing for Duke.

In her third-year, she appeared in 34 more games and made six more starts for the Blue Devils. In the process, she raised her scoring average to 3.9 points per game and her rebound average to 3.4 per contest. She also helped Duke make it to the NCAA Tournament for the second-time in her career, but it was in her senior season that she would truly see all the hard work come to fruition in her college days.

As a senior, she was a key piece for a team that made it to the Sweet Sixteen for the second time during her four-year career. She also started in all 33 of the team’s games and scored 8.6 points per game to go with 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. She also made her presence felt as a bucket protector as she swatted away 39 shots and came away with 46 steals on the season.

Her senior season also saw her be named a Lisa Leslie canidate as the nation’s top center, earn the distinction of All-ACC Academic Team, and score a career-high 24 points in a game against UNC Greensboro.

Along the way, she finished her studies in 2018 in  Visual Arts and Media Studies along with a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship each. She also graduated from the program as a two-time ACC Honor Roll selection, something not easy to do while managing a national and Atlantic Coast Conference athletic commitment.

After her time with the Blue Devils, she moved to Italy to start a professional career with USE Scotti Empoli and became the clubs first U.S.-born born player in franchise history. Living in Italy for three years, she was able to fulfill her interests in basketball and fashion all in one place. She played in the top league in Italy, but it was something that took a toll on her body.

After three seasons in Italy, she decided to move to the country of Luxembourg to begin a stint with BBC Grengewald Hueschtert. This club competes in the Euro Cup Women’s League. From playing four more years of basketball at the professional level, Mathias recognizes that the end could be near for her playing days. However, she does not plan to go far from basketball.

“I hope to get into some part-time coaching and give back to the younger generations with my knowledge and love for the game,” said the veteran forward.

During her days as a player, she recognizes a few moments as her favorite memories including the chance to participate as a teenager in USA basketball trials and staying at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in addition to making it to the Sweet Sixteen twice at Duke.

Some additional fun facts about Erin is she’s an accomplished photographer and content creator, her older brother, Matt, was a former college hooper at Grove City College, and her girlfriend, Amanda Brown, was a standout volleyball player for the Oregon State Beavers and is currently a professional player.

Erin, if the end is in fact near for your time as a professional hooper, congratulations on all you have accomplished in the game of basketball. Best of luck to you and your club as you continue your season 🏀 🇱🇺