C.C. Thomas
MM Sports Scene
GRAND RAPIDS — Anthony Clemmons sat back and watched a teammate make a decision on his basketball future.
Now it’s his turn.
Clemmons, the senior point guard of the Lansing Sexton boys basketball team, was happy when teammate Denzel Valentine decided early to play for Michigan State.
“I’m very happy for him,” Clemmons said. “I sat and talked with him and was happy for him. It feels good to have a teammate that is going to play in the Big Ten.”
Clemmons is now in the middle of his recruiting process, which includes a long offseason of AAU basketball.
Last week Clemmons played for the Michigan Mustangs at the ‘Brawl for the Ball’ at Grand Rapids’ DeVos Place and led the team to the final four. There, the Mustangs fell to the West Michigan Lakers, but not before Clemmons scored 27 points for his team.
It’s been that kind of summer for Clemmons, putting up great numbers in an offseason that has seen him play 60 games already.
“I proved a lot, and improved a lot, as far as how I played last year,” said Clemmons, who helped lead Sexton to a Division 1 state championship last year by averaging 13.4 points and four assists per game. “I think I vaulted up a level this year. I’m happy with what I have shown coaches so far with my game.”
Over 30 college coaches were in Grand Rapids last week, and they were impressed with what they saw in Clemmons.
“He has great vision in the half court, and he is very explosive in the open court,” Aquinas College assistant coach Denny Krynicki said. “And he will keep you honest with a good outside shot.”
It is that assessment that has Clemmons happy with the hard work he has been putting into his game.
“My strength is controlling the game and keeping my players on task,” Clemmons said. “And attacking the rim and scoring when I need to. My weakness is probably my jump shot. I’ve been told I need to work on my jump shot, and I have. I think that is what made me stand out a little more this summer, showing I can shoot.”
So far Clemmons has received offers from Grand Valley and Ferris in Division II, and he has drawn serious interest from Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Iowa, and University of Detroit Mercy in Division I.
Clemmons hopes to make a decision before his senior season begins in December, but he will weigh all his options.
“I’m thinking about either making decision in the middle of August around my birthday or at the end of the season,” Clemmons said. “It depends on how this offseason ends and how my visits go. I do want to make my decision before the season, but I wouldn’t mind making it after. If I have any big-time offers and if a college coach asks me to make a decision, I will make a decision. My parents want me to take my time.”
Clemmons’ offseason still has 30 to 40 games left, then he will concentrate on his senior season. Last year Sexton ended with its championship and a 26-2 record.
“I want to have a repeat,” Clemmons said. “And stay hungry.”
An attitude any college coach would want.