Redbird verbal: Justin Clark

[cpacmel]

Ekey's teammate verbals:

Justin Clark is following his high school teammate to Illinois State to play basketball. | Chrisman High School's Ekey commits to ISU

Justin Clark, a 6-4 guard from Chrisman High School in Independence, Mo., announced Wednesday morning he will sign a national letter of intent with ISU in November. Earlier in the week, Chrisman 6-7 guard/forward Jon Ekey gave ISU coach Tim Jankovich a verbal commitment.

Clark led the state of Missouri in scoring last season with a 25.6 scoring average.

[Mc Bulldog]

I think I'm going to be sick. :grin: Way to go IlSU ... HUGE GET! :redbirds:

[redbirdfan21]

Wow... this is sweet... Great Job by Coaches Jank and Beane is getting these kids!!!

[Canevision]

Clark is very good. MSU wanted him pretty bad...

[Coasterbill42]

I just don't freaking get it sometimes.

[redbirdfan21]

I just don't freaking get it sometimes.
I assume you are frustrated that MSU didn't get Clark... but what exactly do you mean? Just curious...

[WSUfan]

Maybe the gender ratio at ISU ( 54% females and 46% males) is starting to pay off. :lol:

[BeeLine]

Nice tandum pickup by the Redbirds in Ekey and Clark; both will be solid .
Valley players
Coaster, relax; it's never an issue of who you don't get at this level, just who you do. Under the old regime we would have targeted and offered only a handful of upper level prospects, and then if we didn't sign them we were in panic mode. Zo and staff have targeted a pretty wide spread area in such a short time and we have offers on the table to a signifcant number of SG and SF types in the 3 star range. We'll get a couple to add to a group that already includes Jerome Jones, and two D-1 transfers who become elgible next year.
In the meantime congrats to Illinois State, I like seeing the top level area talent stay in the Valley; we'll get our share and then it's fun to watch who developes where.

[brocks]

Maybe not quite Jordan Prosser :naughty: but these two are solid recruits. Congrats to ISU.

[upsaluki]

Nice pickup. The Valley is a very competitive league.

[DUBulldog]

Zo and staff have targeted a pretty wide spread area in such a short time and we have offers on the table to a signifcant number of SG and SF types in the 3 star range.

Sounds a lot like Coach Phelps at Drake.....he wanted both Clark and Ekey, but I know the Bulldogs are in on a lot of 6-4 to 6-6 swing players...plenty more fish in the sea.

[Aargh]

Great gets with these 2 players.

They've both been on the WSU radar and the recruiting forum at Shockernet was following both players. Both project as solid Valley players - and I'm factoring in that it seems every Valley school has upped the recruiting stakes.

These guys are potential upper-tier types even when you consider that the Valley is attracting a lot more 3-star types than we've seen in a while. The recruiting stakes are moving up.

[BeeLine]

Yeah DUBulldog, I like the philosophy that Zo and apparently others have of offering to as many players as you identify are good fits in your program, and seeing who responds first. I'm sure within that frame work there are those who get more attention than others, but the basic premise is to not tie your fortunes to only one horse. Then you're not on plan B or C if someone signs elsewhere, you're still dealing with prospects you would have taken in the 1st place.
TN and I have looked at our prospects and feel comfortable with any of a number of combinations of filling 3 positions from a list of about 10-12 we either have offered or are still considering. Nothing wrong with the players knowing that either; Jerome Jone.s signed and then said he wanted to make sure the offer didn't get taken before he had the chance. You want to recruit with the perspective it's a honor to come to your University and have the chance to play MVC basketball.

[Dawg_tired]

Any truth to Justin having difficulty qualifying?

[TNMSUFAN]

Any truth to Justin having difficulty qualifying?

It was a pretty good source that told Beeline and I that BUT he has all school year and next summer to get things taken care of. Hopefully it works out because he is a good kid and I am looking forward to watching him play in the Valley.

[Little Eddie]

It was a pretty good source that told Beeline and I that BUT he has all school year and next summer to get things taken care of. Hopefully it works out because he is a good kid and I am looking forward to watching him play in the Valley.

How about the knee? Is that gonna need surgery?

[tropicalshox]

We'll get a couple to add to a group that already includes Jerome Jones, and two D-1 transfers who become elgible next year.

Beeline, I know about Adam Leonard, who is your other transfer?

Ekey should be solid. However, he looked like a SF to me and not a PF. I was surprised to hear they plan on him at the 4 and to flash out. I'm sure he will bulk up however. Clark could be a star.

[ransom101]

Justin Clark even though thin, will instantly become one of the best shooters in the conference. i've watched him play at Chrisman for the last 2 years and I think he's one of the best offensive players in KC. Better then Michael Dixon, Dominique Morrison, even Marcus Denmon @ MU. His shot is pure and he reminds me of Ray Allen. I was really hoping Creighton could of pulled him to play with my boy. I'll have fun watchin illinois st. play this year.

[Dawg_tired]

You're miss informed. There's nothing wrong with his knee, it's his elbow on his shooting hand.

[Dawgbit]

You're miss informed. There's nothing wrong with his knee, it's his elbow on his shooting hand.

He has an elbow on his shooting hand???:ermm:

I cannot wait to see this dude.

[Dawg_tired]

He has an elbow on his shooting hand???:ermm:

I cannot wait to see this dude.

Work with me here.

[DoubleJayAlum]

You're miss informed.

Maybe someday you'll meet Mr. informed. :grin:

[Dawg_tired]

Maybe someday you'll meet Mr. informed. :grin:

Picky barstard.

[MoValley John]

Everybody is special. Girls are special on the inside, boys are special on the outside. Don't make fun of Mr. Clark simply because he is genetically gifted and basketball suits him well. With the extra elbow, it was either basketball or the circus. Time will tell if he chose wisely.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l283/beeblebrox666/largestHand.jpg

[TNMSUFAN]

Beeline, I know about Adam Leonard, who is your other transfer?

Caleb Patterson 7' C from Colorado

[tropicalshox]

Caleb Patterson 7' C from Colorado

Thanks. Can't believe I forgot that one.

If anybody wants to quickly take a look at MVC commits for all of the MVC go to the Shockernet link listed below. Near the bottom of the 1st post is a listing of all 2009 MVC commits to date and includes transfers who will become eligible in 2009 (I will add Patterson ASAP). Scouting reports, links and even my own MVC current class rankings (admittedly through yellow color glasses) are included. I do my best to keep the listing very current.

http://www.shockernet.net/sn/viewtopic.php?t=8659

[tropicalshox]

Illinois State has picked up their 3rd verbal of the week. I'll let a Redbird fan have the fun of telling us about him.

[SubGod22]

I mentioned it in the Ekey thread but I know WSU offered Clark and seemed to really like him. I saw him play at the WSU Specialty Camp and you could tell he was very confident in his shot and had a quick release. You could see the potential despite his shot not falling at all in the games I saw him play and I wouldn't call him the best guard there but wouldn't have been upset if he landed in Wichita. I just hope his game has developed as a whole. He's been pretty much just a shooter from what I've read but he's trying to improve the rest of his offensive game and putting the ball on the floor.

[cpacmel]

Illinois State has picked up their 3rd verbal of the week. I'll let a Redbird fan have the fun of telling us about him.

Terry Johnson is a 6-foot guard who averaged 21 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals per game last season for St. Rita High School in Chicago. (he will play at N. Lawndale this coming season.)

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/johnsonisu.html


Johnson had offers from Loyola-Chicago and Baylor as well as a high level of interest from Michigan, Harvard, Vanderbilt and Missouri State among others.