PORTLAND, Ore. – The University of Portland has announced that Matheus Silveira will join the Portland Pilots men's basketball team this upcoming season. Silveira (7-0, 255) began his collegiate career at Austin Peay and spent last season at Pensacola State College. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Silveira logged 12 games and 11 starts with the Pensacola State Pirates this past season, averaging 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds a game. He led the Pirates in blocks per contest at 1.2 and was second in rebounds.

"Matheus has a ton of potential," Portland head coach Shantay Legans said. "He moves well, has a soft touch around the rim and will provide a big presence in the paint at both ends of the court. Matheus will thrive in our developmental system. He is passionate about improvement and we are excited to see him reach his potential here at Portland."

"I felt a really good connection to Coach Legans," Silveira said about why he chose Portland. "He's got that fire and is willing to help me achieve whatever my dream is. There's no boundaries I feel when it comes to him helping you earn what you want to achieve, and I feel like he will hold you accountable for that at all times."

Before playing at Pensacola, the 7-footer spent two seasons as a member of the Austin Peay men's basketball team. While an injury robbed him of most of his freshman year, he played 24 games in the 2019-20 season and finished the year strong. He hit 14-of-17 shots in his final eight games, including a 4-for-5 effort against Morehead State.

"I play with my back to the basket, that's where I play most of my game," Silveira said about his style of play. "Rebounding, finishing around the basket, being able to run the floor and make my teammates better by passing the ball to shooters or cutters."

Prior to college, the Tres Pontas, Brazil native played at Calusa Prep in Miami, Fla. and with Minas Tenis Clube in Brazil. With Minas Tenis, Silveira won two U-15 South American Championships in 2012 and 2013 and won a South American championship playing with Brazil's U-15 squad.

During the 2015 FIBA Americas U-16 championships, Silveira played well against Team USA, tallying 11 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes against them. That same year, he was also one of 40 players from Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Mexico selected to take part in Nike's Americas Team Camp in Mexico City.

Silveira is one of eight newcomers and the first junior college transfer to have signed on with the Pilots for the 2021-22 season. Coach Legans has brought in five other transfers, including three – Mike Meadows, Tyler Robertson and Jack Perry – from his previous stop at Eastern Washington. Legans also has brought in transfers Kristian Sjolund and Moses Wood as well as freshmen Yaru Harvey and Skylar Wilson.