HOMETOWN CONNECTION: Zach Matulu and U’Mier Graham bring Capital Region pride to UAlbany

By Quincy Irvin | September 14, 2026

Zacharie Matulu (#14) is the Great Danes’ highest returning scorer and a graduate of Shaker High School. Photo Credit: Brent Warzocha / UAlbany Athletics

For college athletes, the journey to going D1 is easier said than done. The level of hard work and commitment should never go unnoticed—but doing it in front of the very community that raised you brings you a whole different level of purpose and motivation.

 As the UAlbany men’s basketball team prepares for the upcoming season, local ties run deep on the roster. Zach Matulu and U’Mier Graham are two Capital Region natives who have taken different paths home to represent their city on the court.

Matulu, a returning guard for the Great Danes, enters the season with an established role in the system, having once been a walk-on. Known for his defensive tenacity and energy, his familiarity with the program gives UAlbany a reliable local who understands what it means to wear the purple and gold in his own backyard. As an integral part of the UAlbany backcourt this season, he will look to improve on a season where he averaged nearly ten points and six rebounds per game. 

Joining him is new addition U’Mier Graham. A standout talent from local High School Green Tech, he played last season at the Knox school on Long Island. He brings length, athleticism, and local pedigree to the Great Danes’ frontcourt rotation. Having learned how to play on the wings and add versatility to his game, he is a prospect the Capital Region has reasons to be excited about. 

In an era of college sports where rosters are being reconstructed due to the number of players in the transfer portal, having these homegrown talented players provides a crucial anchor for the Great Danes' identity. Matulu and Graham aren’t just playing for wins and their career; they're playing in front of family, former coaches, and young athletes within the Albany community who grew up watching the same gym floors.

The local connection is real as the bond between the two Albany natives improves team chemistry throughout the entire locker room. As UAlbany looks to make a strong push in the America East conference this winter, having two Capital Region players on the roster gives the community and university a real sense of connection to the team.