Hoops Recruiting Question

[TyBull]

 

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Shores Christian Academy basketball player Cliff Clinkscales Wednesday May 5, 2004 after signing a scholarship with DePaul.

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Next Stop, Chicago

Shores Christian's Cliff Clinkscales commits to DePaul

Published May 06. 2004 7:30AM

BY MIKE HODGE

Sports Writer

CANDLER - Letter by letter, Cliff Clinkscales defined his future with a black felt pen.

No smudges. No ambiguity. It's there in black and white. D-E-P-A-U-L, which is where Clinkscales will play college basketball next season.

The star point guard from Shores Christian Academy dotted all the i's and crossed all the ts Wednesday when he signed a national of letter of intent with the Blue Demons. Some scrawl their name. Clinkscales? He draws his signature.

"He wants it to look good," said Nancy Davison, Clinkscales' house mother. "When Cliff does something, he does it right. The school's not going to be the same without him."

Clinkscales, a Queens, N.Y. native, who enrolled at Shores three years ago, chose DePaul over St. John's and Miami. Among the others who inquired were Maryland, Florida State, Florida, Massachusetts, Indiana and Cincinnati.

Other schools may have offered a bit more glamor, but the Blue Demons, he felt, were the the best fit.

"I wanted to go somewhere where it was the best decision for me," Clinkscales said. "I wanted to to a good program, a program on the rise I could help make better. DePaul won their conference. They played in the NCAAs. They lost to the national champion. When I'm a sophomore, they'll be in the Big East, which means they'll have games in Madison Square Garden. That's another plus."

The Star-Banner Player of the Year is Shores' second alumnus to play college basketball. The first was Karon Washington, who signed with Division III Piedmont College.

"It's big for us," Shores coach Danny Smith said. "Big school, little school, doesn't matter. If you're good enough, you're going to be seen. It's good for us. It's good for the community. It's good for private schools."

Few Marion County prep basketball players have received such acclaim. Smith believes Clinkscales may be the best local guard since former Vanguard High star Travis Mays signed with the University of Texas in the mid 1980s.

Among the other notable homegrown players to pass through Ocala on the way to a high-profile college basketball scholarship are Nabe Palmer (Vanguard/Florida), Kenny Vaughns (Vanguard/Wake Forest/Arizona State), Zebedee Howell (Vanguard/Minnesota), Ingram Purvis(Vanguard/Oklahoma/South Florida), Frank Johnson (Lake Weir/Wake Forest) and Eddie Johnson (Lake Weir/Auburn).

"I don't know a lot about (Conference USA), but from what I do know, I think he'll step right in and be a force," Smith said. "I think he'll make an impact. That's what I'm trying to say. He'll work hard and he'll graduate with a degree."

Clinkscales, 6-0, who scored more than 1,000 on his Scholastic Assessment Test, is expected to meet NCAA academic standards for freshman eligibility. He averaged 21 points and 12 assists, helping the Tigers to 36 victories and the National Association of Christian Athletes Championship, fame that will be remembered for years.

"This is huge for us," Shores athletic director Doug Davison said. "This is like family here, and then one of the siblings gets a great honor like this, and you're a part of it. Other than Karon, this is it for us."

Motivated by personal and team goals, Clinkscales thirsts for collegiate success. One assist, he hopes, will lead to another.

"I just want to go into their system, fit in and do whatever the team needs me to do," Clinkscales said. "I've got to stay focused and keep working hard. My first year I want to lead the nation in assists, take the team to the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight. Deep in the tournament. Just say that."

Tucked away near the banks of Lake Weir, Shores has often been overlooked in the wake of probation resulting from Florida High School Athletic Association recruiting violations three years ago. Along came Clinkscales, whose fabulous skills fortified not only a team, but a community.

"This is a big deal," Clinkscales said. "Shores hasn't gotten the credit it deserves. This shows if you're good enough, you'll still get recognition. It doesn't matter what school you go to. Coaches will find you."

Clinkscales, 19, found Shores after two turbulent years of high school, a second chance he cherishes.

"I will give back," Clinkscales said. "These people here took me in and helped me when they didn't even know me. Every chance I get, I want to give back."

Mike Hodge can be reached at 867-4148 or

mike.hodge@starbanner.com.

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Now my question: Who is Ingram Purvis?  :

[Papa_Bull]

He's listed on the team in 1980.

http://www.infonavigate.com/duke/475.htm

[bulls96go]

why is this pertinent to usf?

[Velcro]

it does mention USF and I think we were/are recruiting clinkscales.

[bullballer]

Ingram Purvis played at USF from '80-'82.  At 6-8 210 he was not the most gifted athlete, but he was smart, determined, and left it all out on the floor every night.  He possessed a deadly shot from the top of the key.  He was a Sun Dome favorite and was nicknamed "The Assassin."

[bulls96go]

AND?