A second high school senior from Texas in as many weeks has verbally committed to play basketball at Princeton. Joining Highland Park big man Daniel Edwards is 6'0" guard Chris Clement from Round Rock, who told the Tiger coaching staff on Monday that he wanted to be a part of Sydney Johnson's program.
Earlier today I talked on the phone with Stony Point High School boys basketball coach Brian Route. He shared his thoughts with me about his poised point guard.
Exclusive quotes, video highlights and links to articles about Clement can be found after the jump.
For full profiles on all the members of the 2010 Princeton recruiting class, click here.
"Once a Tiger, always a Tiger."
That's what Coach Route, entering his 11th season at Round Rock, has been telling his three year starter - who will trade in the maize and blue Stony Point High School Tigers jersey for an orange and black Princeton Tigers uniform next September.
Route described Clement as a young man who "could probably get away with 6'1" and is a solid 185 lbs." Route also shared with me that Clement can bench 240 lbs and squat 300 lbs.
"Whatever you ask him to do, he does" said Route. "He shot 42% from behind the arc (59-142) as a junior, 39% as a sophomore. What makes his shot so good is he doesn't take bad shots. He has a very high basketball IQ. He's like having a coach out there on the floor."
Clement averaged 13 points per game and 5 assists per game as a junior. "If we needed to, he could average 10 assists" his coach boasted. Clement dished out 140 assists while swiping 123 steals in 2008-09, shooting a team-best 77% at the free throw line.
The left-handed Clement appears comfortable penetrating with either hand and is calm in traffic or when surrounded by the opposition.
Route went one step further, saying "it is not just in traffic, but everywhere. His demeanor and his character...18 years I've been coaching and we haven't had a kid like him, ever - on the court or off the court."
At Stony Brook, Clement primarily runs the point, but "can play any position on the court from 2 to 5" in his coach's mind. "He can just do it all."
"I think his best position is a point guard position, especially if he has really good scoring guards around him," Route added. "If he had some really nice options around him, where he was a guy you can't leave by himself, I think it would be beneficial. If you leave him open he will make you pay."
When asked about areas Clement could improve in, Route said that "at the DI level he is going to have to improve his lateral movement to improve his defensive quickness."
"He felt like he fit in nicely," revealed Route of Clement's official visit to Princeton. "He felt like the guards that were there were good and he could compliment those guys well."
"I think the world of Chris," concluded Route. "I'm just happy for him and his family. It is guys like Chris that keep us in the business. When you get one, it really is special."
Tiger fans will have a chance to see for themselves in 2010.
Clement's Rivals profile includes a story about his decision to attend Princeton.
A prior Rivals article quotes Clement as saying he also had interest from Drake, Cornell and Lehigh.
fullctpress.net said after the 2008 Fullcourt Press San Antonio Skills Showcase that Clement is a "Hustling combo-guard [who] attacks the basket with passion."
The Austin American Statesman named Clement its Boys Newcomer of the Year after his sophomore season. Clement was also honored following last season as District 16-5A First Team All-District.