NORMAL -- Landing a high-scoring wing player was a recruiting priority for Illinois State’s basketball team for the Class of 2009. Justin Clark definitely fits that description. | Chrisman High School's Ekey commits to ISU
Clark, a 6-foot-4½ guard from Chrisman High School in Independence, Mo., announced Wednesday he will sign a national letter of intent with ISU in November. Clark was the No. 1 scorer among Missouri preps last season, averaging 25.6 points while sinking 103 3-point baskets.
A visit last weekend to the ISU campus with teammate Jon Ekey convinced Clark to become a Redbird.
“I’ve always been told from day one in the recruiting process you will feel it and know the school you want to go to,” said Clark. “After knowing Coach (Tim) Jankovich and seeing the campus, I got that feeling.”
Clark wanted to sleep on his decision for a couple days to make sure it was right. Ekey, a 6-7 forward, decided to also join ISU and made a verbal commitment earlier in the week.
With freshman walk-on forward Kellen Thornton promised a scholarship for next season, ISU has one scholarship left. The Redbirds are expected to target a center or power forward.
NCAA rules prohibit Jankovich from commenting on recruits until they sign a national letter of intent.
Clark said Santa Clara and Missouri State were in his final three schools along with ISU. A starter since his freshman year at Chrisman, Clark said “I’ll fit right in with that style of play” used by the Redbirds.
“He can flat out shoot,” said Chrisman coach John Vickers. “He should smash the state record (for 3-pointers) early in the season and be high on the national list.”
Clark’s 281 3-pointers ranks third on the all-time Missouri list. The state record is 355.
The college 3-point line is being moved back a foot to 20 feet, 9 inches this season. Vickers said the extra distance won’t affect Clark.
“That’s going to separate the pretenders from the guys who can really shoot,” said Vickers. “He shoots those shots now and deeper than that. Coach (Jankovich) will attest to that. He shoots deep.”
Clark scored more than 30 points in 13 games last season, with a high of 40. He never played a full game, said Vickers, as Chrisman substitutes freely because it uses the Grinnell (Iowa) system of full-court pressure defense and a quick-shooting 3-point offense.
As a freshman, Clark had games where he sank 10 and nine 3-pointers, respectively. Last season, Vickers said Clark worked on improving his mid-range game and finished with more two-point baskets (127) than threes for the first time.
A member of the KC Pump N’ Run on the AAU circuit, Clark was the most valuable player of the Jayhawk Invitational in Lawrence, Kan. Pump N’ Run won two national tournaments this summer. Ekey also played for the squad.
The 176-pound Clark doesn’t want to be known as just a shooter.
“I definitely have to get in the weight room,” he said. “I have to improve my ball handling, and I know defense will be a key factor there.”
Clark said he and Ekey weren’t a package deal.
“That’s how it worked out,” said Clark. “We both are individual players and fit in with the same school.”
ISU basketball lands high-scoring wing player with
Clark, a 6-foot-4½ guard from Chrisman High School in Independence, Mo., announced Wednesday he will sign a national letter of intent with ISU in November. Clark was the No. 1 scorer among Missouri preps last season, averaging 25.6 points while sinking 103 3-point baskets.
A visit last weekend to the ISU campus with teammate Jon Ekey convinced Clark to become a Redbird.
“I’ve always been told from day one in the recruiting process you will feel it and know the school you want to go to,” said Clark. “After knowing Coach (Tim) Jankovich and seeing the campus, I got that feeling.”
Clark wanted to sleep on his decision for a couple days to make sure it was right. Ekey, a 6-7 forward, decided to also join ISU and made a verbal commitment earlier in the week.
With freshman walk-on forward Kellen Thornton promised a scholarship for next season, ISU has one scholarship left. The Redbirds are expected to target a center or power forward.
NCAA rules prohibit Jankovich from commenting on recruits until they sign a national letter of intent.
Clark said Santa Clara and Missouri State were in his final three schools along with ISU. A starter since his freshman year at Chrisman, Clark said “I’ll fit right in with that style of play” used by the Redbirds.
“He can flat out shoot,” said Chrisman coach John Vickers. “He should smash the state record (for 3-pointers) early in the season and be high on the national list.”
Clark’s 281 3-pointers ranks third on the all-time Missouri list. The state record is 355.
The college 3-point line is being moved back a foot to 20 feet, 9 inches this season. Vickers said the extra distance won’t affect Clark.
“That’s going to separate the pretenders from the guys who can really shoot,” said Vickers. “He shoots those shots now and deeper than that. Coach (Jankovich) will attest to that. He shoots deep.”
Clark scored more than 30 points in 13 games last season, with a high of 40. He never played a full game, said Vickers, as Chrisman substitutes freely because it uses the Grinnell (Iowa) system of full-court pressure defense and a quick-shooting 3-point offense.
As a freshman, Clark had games where he sank 10 and nine 3-pointers, respectively. Last season, Vickers said Clark worked on improving his mid-range game and finished with more two-point baskets (127) than threes for the first time.
A member of the KC Pump N’ Run on the AAU circuit, Clark was the most valuable player of the Jayhawk Invitational in Lawrence, Kan. Pump N’ Run won two national tournaments this summer. Ekey also played for the squad.
The 176-pound Clark doesn’t want to be known as just a shooter.
“I definitely have to get in the weight room,” he said. “I have to improve my ball handling, and I know defense will be a key factor there.”
Clark said he and Ekey weren’t a package deal.
“That’s how it worked out,” said Clark. “We both are individual players and fit in with the same school.”
ISU basketball lands high-scoring wing player with
