DHS Sports Hall Matt Rogers

Doniphan High School basketball standout Matt Rogers, a player whose sports accomplishments earned him accolades at every level and even professional play, is about to be inducted into the DHS Sports Hall of Fame.

Born to Wade and LaDonna Rogers in 1987, Rogers was a worship leader at First Baptist Church while attending DHS and establishing an impressive scholastic sports record as compiled by the Hall of Fame Committee. He was a scoring leader in his freshman year with 389 points and was block leader with 202 blocks. He was also the top rank in triple doubles for that season. He was an All-District Player in 2005 and All-Conference and All-State Players in 2005 and 2006. Rogers was again the seasonal scoring leader his senior year with 345 points and was a member of the 25-4 State Tournament Team.

Rogers graduated in 2006 and attended Southwest Baptist University (SBU), where it is recorded that he continued his sports career, helping the SBU Bearcats to win two MIAA championships. He was named to five different NCAA Division II All-American teams and on seven All-Region teams. In 2009, he was the Daktronics Central Region Player of the Year, the MIAA MVP and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. He ranks in the top 10 of 11 career categories at SBU, including fourth in points scored, and first in blocked shots and free throws made. He graduated from SBU in 2011 and was entered into the SBU Hall of Fame in 2016.

Rogers played professionally after college and had stints with the NBA D-League’s Texas Legends and was in NBA training camps with the Charlotte Bobcats and Indiana Pacers. He played professionally in Lebanon, Spain, Qatar, New Zealand and the Philippines.

On Dec. 13, 2023, Rogers was given a Filbert Five Award from the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, an award presented to persons who make significant contributions to the sport of basketball at the high school, collegiate and/or professional level.

Today, Rogers works as a regional manager for IDLife in the Springfield area. His wife Rachael is a Texas native and they have two daughters: Sloan (7) and Sadie (5). He credits his sports experiences with bettering his life.

“My experience on different teams with so many different people has helped my career,” Rogers said. “It gave me an understanding on how to be a team player in all situations,” he says.

His time overseas, in exposing him to cultures and situations most people never experience, changed his outlooks as well.

“I will share all of these experiences with my kids,” he said.

Basketball has recently become part of his life again.

Sloan has begun playing basketball at her school. So far, Rogers’ only role in her coaching is what he gives her personally.

Rogers will go into the DHS Hall of Fame with Morgan (Davis) Emfinger and Ed Rickus. Their inductions will take place in the Bill L. Wright Gymnasium during the Jan. 10 Dons game with Twin Rivers.