Clemons leads Campbell hoops and the nation in scoring
Posted December 13, 2018 10:51 p.m. EST
When you're the nation's leading scorer and averaging north of 30 points per game, you'd think every team in college basketball would have recruited you.
Not in Chris Clemons' case.
“I only had three schools coming out of high school,” Clemons said.
Campbell, UNC-Greensboro and Gardner-Webb were the only schools that offered Clemons a scholarship.
“We were the first team to offer him, and he decided to come to Campbell in the end," said Campbell head coach Kevin McGeehan. "He's been loyal ever since.”
Clemons' loyalty paid off. He passed former NC State star David Thompson on college basketball's career scoring list. Clemons also leads active Division I players with double figures in 91 straight games.
“I've just been doing the same thing I've done my whole life,” said Clemons. “It’s just now coming to life for a lot of people.”
After scoring 45 points against Georgetown this season, the Hoyas' head coach Patrick Ewing said Clemons shoots threes like Steph Curry, way past the NBA three-point line.
Clemons was flattered. “From him being an NBA All-Star, a Hall of Famer," he said, "Somebody like that saying you're a special player and you got a lot of talent is big.”
In a world of one-and-dones, Clemons is different. This past offseason, he opted to withdraw from the NBA Draft and finish his college career at Campbell. “Positionally, I thought it would go a little better for me this year because I can go higher than projected,” he said.
Clemons stands at 5’9” but that isn't deterring NBA Scouts. “I think his athleticism and what he can do for the team will supersede his height," said McGeehan.
The humble Campbell standout is focused on making it to the league so he can give back to the people who knew he was a star all along.
“Live out my dream to play in the NBA....buy my family all the things they ever wanted," Clemons said. "They're very supportive, I'm glad they have something to talk about and something that they can be proud of now and for the future potentially.”
