Westwind Prep Academy post-grad, gifted 6-foot point guard prospect Everett Clemons is among the most advanced point guard prospects still available this spring, even though it had looked as if he was recently off the recruiting board.
Recently, we had learned that Clemons had given a verbal commitment to the University of Northern Colorado and that his college recruitment might be over. After speaking with Clemons and Westwind Prep post-graduate head coach Gabe Stephens, we learned that Clemons is in fact still available and is still hearing from numerous college programs for his services.
Clemons had a terrific season while playing for the Westwind post-grad program, as he competed all season against stiff local junior college competition and top prep school programs around the West Coast. Clemons proved his value this season as he beat up on opposing guard prospects and imposed his will against smaller guard prospects.
A former football and basketball star at Lanphier High School in Illinois last season, Clemons chose to travel to the state of Arizona and attend Westwind Prep after being selected as the State Journal-Register’s CS8 Male Athlete of the Year. Clemons was also a First-Team Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 3A/4A All-State selection. Clemons averaged 18.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per/game as a senior in Illinois - leading Lanphier HS to a 28-5 record and a fourth-place finish at the Class 3A state tournament.
Clemons chose to go the prep school route to improve his jump shot for the collegiate level. Clemons worked very hard this season to do just that and he showed that was able to make shots under defensive pressure out to three-point distance, a nice attribute for him. What Clemons does exceptionally well though is get to the basket. In fact, this young man gets into the lane better than any point guard I have seen in recent memory. In one game this season, in a win over Phoenix College, Clemons took over the game down the stretch against the ACCAC conference's top division-II team this season. Westwind put the basketball in Clemons' hands each of the last 10 possessions of the game, and he dominated the defense - drawing fouls, scoring the basketball in traffic and making plays for his teammates for a late one-point victory.
Clemons made a believer out of me after that performance, and he has rolled ever since. Clemons is a tough, hard-nosed point guard prospect that is well put together - built like a defensive back and as physical a guard prospect as there is. His ability to get into the lane and finish around the rim are glaring attributes, as he is almost unstoppable off the dribble. As a result of his terrific ability to penetrate the basketball, this young man does not often need to shoot the basketball from the perimeter, but a continued development of his jump shot will aid him in his ability at the next level to set up his defender for his penetration.
Clemons is a pass-first point guard prospect, which I love to see, and is a true leader on the floor - being very vocal and commanding presence on the floor. He is a throw-back, pure point-guard prospect that knows how to run a team and locks up defensively - another great attribute he possesses. Clemons has the lateral quickness and toughness to beat opposing guards to the spot on the floor, making it difficult for guards to create against him. Clemons has a striking resemblance as a player to former Michigan State star guard Mateen Cleaves.
Currently, Clemons is hearing from numerous division-I programs, but still, most college programs have still not seen this young man as of yet. This is a definite big-time sleeper prospect at the point guard spot that should begin to see his college recruitment begin to soar this spring, as more college programs learn that he is still available.
I will continue to follow the recruitment of Clemons this spring, and bring you updates as they begin to develop.
Clemons was a full academic qualifier out of high school and is ready to go academically.
