Sept. 7, 2009
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - With the start of the 2009-10 basketball season nearly two months away, UCF freshman forward Keith Clanton (Orlando, Fla.) has garnered some more individual praise. In its "Best of the Rest" Shootaround, ESPN.com listed Clanton as one of "10 Freshmen We Can't Wait to See."
The 6-foot-8 Clanton was rated as high as the 60th-best high school senior in the country a year ago. The 2008-09 Florida Class 1A Player of the Year, he averaged 18.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.9 blocked shots in leading Orlando Christian Prep to the state championship for the second-straight year. Clanton finished the campaign with 25 double-doubles and was selected as the Orlando Sentinel Central Florida Player of the Year.
Here is what ESPN.com and Scouts, Inc., had to say about Clanton in the shootaround:
"He is a skilled face-up 4 who scores inside-out. Clanton will be a mismatch problem for opponents because he is extremely effective inside and outside with size. He plays with an infectious passion and will give the Knights a legit big man to combat the upper-tier programs in Conference USA. He turned down Big East and SEC offers."
Clanton signed a National Letter of Intent with head coach Kirk Speraw's Knights last November.
UCF fans will have 15 chances to see Clanton and his teammates play at the UCF Arena this season. The squad opens the campaign on Nov. 13, hosting Massachusetts. Season tickets, which begin at just $79, are currently available by calling (407) UCF-1000 or by visiting UCFAthletics.com.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.