Nov. 19, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Orlando's Keith Clanton, one of the premier prep players in the nation, confirmed his commitment to the UCF men's basketball program Wednesday, signing a National Letter of Intent to play for head coach Kirk Speraw's Knights. A 6-foot-8 forward, Clanton was the Florida Class 1A Player of the Year for Orlando Christian Prep last season and earned MVP honors at the AAU national tournament during the summer.
The 2007-08 Orlando Sentinel Player of the Year, Clanton led Orlando Christian Prep to a 27-2 mark and a state title as a junior. The MVP of the state tournament, he averaged 21.0 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.1 blocks during the year. The Orlando native shot 64.9 percent from the field. He also garnered Florida Class 1A All-State First Team honors and was named to the Orlando Sentinel's All-Central Florida First Team.
"We are ecstatic that Keith is joining the UCF basketball family. Keith is one of the most skilled forwards in the country," Speraw said. "This makes a huge statement about UCF basketball and the direction that we are heading. One of our priorities is to attract the best players in Central Florida and this is a major step forward in that direction. It speaks volumes about the perception of our program since joining Conference USA and the commitment we have made in enhancing our facilities.
"In addition to being an outstanding player, Keith is a great person who comes from a tremendous family. Keith will not only be an outstanding representative of UCF, but will also represent the entire Central Florida community. Hopefully Keith's commitment to our program will show that UCF is a top choice for not only the best local products, but also for the premier players in the country."
During the summer of 2008, Clanton led Team Breakdown to the AAU 17-and-under national title. He totaled 19 points and nine rebounds in the championship game against the New York Gauchos and was selected as the tournament MVP.
"Orlando Christian is excited that Keith has decided to stay at home and continue his basketball career at UCF," Orlando Christian Prep head coach Reggie Kohn said. "UCF is getting a skilled inside player who has a great feel for the game. All of the people at the school are excited that we will get to see Keith play for the next four years."
Clanton will be joining a UCF program that has enjoyed great success since joining C-USA three years ago. Speraw has led the Knights to top-five finishes in the 12-team league each year. Dating back to the start of the 2002-03 campaign, UCF has won 123 games, which ranks in the top-50 nationally and second among all programs in Florida during that span.
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