Oral commitment? Clarke's growth brings tough decision
The label came early, and it was accurate at the time. Rotnei Clarke was stamped a little white shooter because, well, he was a little white shooter, just a catch-and-shoot phenom punishing high school opponents in Oklahoma.
So while folks respected his ability to rip a net from 20-plus feet, not much else was deemed impressive, and the idea that he could compete at the major college level was questioned, if not totally dismissed.
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| Coveted Rotnei Clarke: 'I'm just going to let God make the choice for me.' (Provided to SportsLine) |
That much he has done.
Now his situation has grown complex.
"Every time Rotnei plays, a new school gets involved and offers a scholarship," said Rotnei's father, Conley Clarke. "It's just getting harder and harder."
I don't normally use this space to write about high school players, but this story is so intriguing it's worth bringing to your attention. It's about how a little white shooter has, on the spring and summer circuits, proved to be so much more, and now new and unexpected scholarship offers are rolling in weekly, decreasing the likelihood that he will be a hometown hero and play at nearby Oral Roberts University.
So what, you say?
Well, you should know that Rotnei's father was hired as the director of basketball operations at ORU in April. Granted, nobody came right out and called it a package deal, but you don't have to be Danny Manning's dad to know that was the plan, for the Golden Eagles to subsequently secure a commitment from Rotnei.
And it was a reasonable plan.
Back then.
But Rotnei has been ripping apart the AAU circuit over the past three months while pairing with the explosive Willie Warren, and now the powers of college basketball aren't only convinced Rotnei is a high-major prospect, they are convinced they must have him. Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Oklahoma, Gonzaga, Texas Tech and New Mexico -- and many other others -- have offered scholarships. Texas and Illinois could join the fray soon, placing Rotnei in a position where he will be faced with arguably the toughest decision of any prospect in the Class of 2008.
Does he stay home and play for the school that hired his father?
