NBPA camp profile: Matt Simpkins

Matt Simpkins, a top 30 prospect in the class of 2008, says he has a plan. The 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward from Berkley (Calif.) High School is down to five schools and he knows when he wants to make a decision.

The four-star forward said Cal, Washington, USC, UConn and Florida round out priority list at the moment.

"That's my top five right now," Simpkins said. "I want to stay home and stay on the West Coast so I can be in the Pac-10. Florida and UConn have caught my eye. With all of these schools, I like their coaches and I like their staffs. They are just good programs. They all like to get out and run."

Official visits will play a key part to his decision, Simpkins said. He hopes to see the places he has yet to trip to and go from there.

"The next step is the official visits. I'm going to go to Florida and go down to USC," Simpkins said. "Washington, of course, I'll visit them. I've already been to Cal. I want to see what they all have to say and what they are all about."

Simpkins is all about finding a place with a coach that "can keep it real" and where his family can keep in close contact.

"The coach, that's it. I want to see how he acts towards his players and if he's really real," Simpkins said. "You hear a lot of stuff from coaches but you want to see if he's real about it all. I want to see it for myself. The academic part is big, too. Cal is big on academics and I know they'll get me prepared if I want to earn my college degree.

"If I stay on the West, I can take care of my mom and my two little sisters. That is something that I'm thinking about."