Chris Clarke

[50's PONY]

Owls Make Another Late Addition


Chris Clarke By Shawn Pastor
Editor
Posted Aug 31, 2009


Coach Fran Dunphy made another late addition to his 2009 recruiting class this week as 6-8 forward Chris Clarke of Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College enrolled for the fall semester. OwlsDaily.com got the inside scoop from Clarke's mother and his former AAU coach on Monday night.

Coach Fran Dunphy made another late addition to his 2009 recruiting class this week as 6-8 forward Chris Clarke of Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College enrolled for the fall semester.

Clarke, a Detroit native who originally signed with SMU coming out of high school, played one year at Pensacola and has three years of eligibility at Temple.

“Christopher is at Temple,” Clarke’s mother, Jocelyn Clarke, confirmed in a telephone interview on Monday night. She said her son was first contacted by the Owls in late July and committed very recently.

Clarke graduated from St. Mary’s Prep in suburban Detroit in 2008. He was ranked among the Top 10 forwards in Michigan prior to his senior year, and was ticketed for SMU before the two parties had a mutual change of heart.

“He was only 17 when he graduated from high school and he had a knee injury in his junior year, so he took the year to strengthen himself,” Clarke’s mother said.

Clarke’s former AAU coach, Speedy Walker, echoed those comments.

“He’s a late bloomer,” Walker said. “He’s got a frail frame. He wasn’t prepared physically, and I don’t know if he wanted to go that far away from home.”

At Pensacola, Clarke averaged just 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 11 minutes per game this past season. But that doesn’t mean he’s not a good prospect, Walker insisted.

“He’s a skilled lefty, a skilled four man,” Walker said. “He can dribble the ball and has a beautiful jump shot. He’s not (Dionte) Christmas, but he can shoot the ball a little bit.”

At St. Mary’s Prep, Clarke played with current Michigan State star Kalin Lucas. The team was perennially ranked among the best in the Detroit area. As a freshman, Clarke attended Detroit Renaissance High School.

“He’s played against the highest level of competition for a long time,” Walker continued. “He’s really a great get. I think he’ll be able to give them something (this season), but his best basketball is ahead of him. Like I said, he’s a late bloomer.”

Walker said he had not spoken with Clarke since early July, so he had no idea that Temple had recruited him. Walker figured Clarke was headed back to Pensacola for another year.

Jocelyn Clarke confirmed that her son was planning to stay at Pensacola until the Owls came calling last month.

Clarke was academically eligible for Division I basketball coming out of high school, so he can join the team immediately.

With Clarke plus recent signee Carmel Bouchman and November 2008 signees Rahlir Jefferson and Khalif Wyatt, the Owls now have the maximum 13 scholarship players on their 2009-10 roster.

[papawasamustang]

I checked out Clarke's stats several x's during last season @ JC & they were terrible.
Obviously there's something there or Temple wouldn't be offering but the #'s don't add up.
I guess #'s don't tell the whole story (See Luttman).
I'll be interested to c how Clarke does in a very good basketball conf.