News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Baylor jumps to top of Wall's list

Published: Aug 03, 2008 12:30 AM
Modified: Aug 03, 2008 02:43 AM

Baylor jumps to top of Wall's list

University hires top recruit's club coach

 

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Baylor University moved into the leadership position in the recruitment of Raleigh Word of God basketball point guard Jonathan Wall last week.

Dwon Clifton, the coach of the Greensboro-based D-One Sports club basketball team, was named Baylor's director of player development on Thursday.

Wall, who is ranked as the top point guard in the Class of 2009, plays for the D-One club team.

"I don't think anyone would be surprised if John Wall announced for Baylor soon," said Bob Gibbons, a basketball recruiting analyst for All-Star Sports in Lenoir.

"John is very comfortable with Dwon, and Baylor already was on Wall's list."

Attempts to reach Wall by telephone were unsuccessful.

Baylor coach Scott Drew told reporters in Waco, Texas, the director of player development job is a new one at Baylor, but the position is becoming more common.

"There's a whole list of jobs and responsibilities he'll have, from mentoring kids to helping them become socially ready to relate to society," Drew told the Waco Tribune.

"With Coach Clifton's experience playing basketball professionally, that helps him relate to kids that age, which is a great asset."

Gibbons noted there are no NCAA regulations about the hiring of a potential recruit's coach.

"It has been going on for years," Gibbons said. "Does anyone remember Danny Manning?"

Manning was a high school star in Greensboro and was expected to stay in-state until Kansas coach Larry Brown hired Ed Manning, Danny's father.

Clifton has a tie to the Baylor program.

He played at Clemson when current Baylor assistant coach Matthew Driscoll was an assistant there.

Clifton played at Clemson for two years before transferring to UNC-Greensboro.

STATE'S IMPRESSIVE HAUL: N.C. State basketball coach Sidney Lowe had a huge recruiting week.

State landed 6-foot-4 point guard Lorenzo Brown of Roswell (Ga.) Centennial, who is ranked No. 29 in the country by scout.com, and 6-7 Richard Howell of Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler, who is ranked No. 74.

"Brown has been an important target for State, and Sidney went out and got him," Gibbons said.

Gibbons also believes Howell is a terrific recruit.

"Don't be surprised if Howell has a bigger impact on the Wolfpack program than J.J. Hickson did," said Gibbons, referring to the center who was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft after playing one season for the Wolfpack.

In addition, 6-5 guard Sean Wood of Marion, Ind., is playing extremely well, Gibbons said.

"He got 39 points in a game in the AAU Nationals in Orlando last week," Gibbons said.

"Right now, Sean is shooting the ball better than [former Duke star] J.J. Reddick did in high school," Gibbons said.

"Sean is 6-5 and stands out there and drills it. He is quite a marksman."

State also has commitments from Word of God forward C.J. Leslie and Marietta (Ga.) Walton point guard Ryan Harrow from the Class of 2010.

"Sidney Lowe has put together a tremendous group of players," Gibbons said.

CRENSHAW COMMITS: Broughton volleyball standout Molly Crenshaw has committed to Davidson.

She has played every position on the court at Broughton except setter but is expected to play libero at Davidson.

She had 260 kills, 380 digs and 65 serving aces for the Caps in 2007.

tim.stevens@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-8910

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