Beaumont had visited Elon with his father during the summer and liked what he saw. Before committing, however, he wanted approval from his mother and sister. It didn’t take much convincing once the Beaumonts arrived in Elon earlier this month.

“My mom and sister immediately loved the school, the coaches and everybody,” Beaumont said.

The coaching staff was a major draw for Beaumont. Matt Matheny, a North Carolina native, spent 16 seasons as an assistant at Davidson before taking the head coaching job at Elon last March. Beaumont said he’s excited to join a program that’s embarking on a new era.

“[Matheny] was [at Davidson] with Steph Curry and their Elite Eight run,” Beaumont said. “I know he’s a great coach and the whole staff is very warm and welcoming. They’re just generally good people. It’s nice to be surrounded by those kinds of people.”

Pat Clatchey, who has coached seven current Division I players at Mount St. Joseph, said Elon is a perfect fit for Beaumont from a basketball and academic standpoint.

“I just think he’s really developing into a very good all-around player,” Clatchey said. “I think [Elon] really likes his versatility as a player. He can score in a variety of ways. He can shoot, he can move well without the ball and he has a nice mid-range pull-up. I think they really like him because he’s very committed to becoming the best player he can be. He’s willing to put in the work, both in the weight room and the gym. I think he’ll be a successful player at the next level.”

Beaumont, Gaels point guard Eric Atkins (Notre Dame) and shooting guard Matt Miller (Seton Hill) will all sign their letters of intent this week. Beaumont said he’s excited that he and his teammates have finished the recruiting process.

“It’s just nice to get the decision done with before the season,” Beaumont said. “Now I can get with my teammates, focus on the season and hopefully get to that championship.”

Baltimore Sun photo of Ryley Beaumont by Gene Sweeney Jr. / Feb. 13, 2009