Oct. 10, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Juniors Keith Clanton (Orlando, Fla.) and Marcus Jordan (Chicago, Ill.) of the UCF men's basketball team have garnered spots on the 2011-12 Preseason All-Conference USA Team, the league office announced Monday. Clanton was selected to the first team, while Jordan was named to the second team.
The league's 12 head coaches selected the team. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Last season, Clanton averaged 14.2 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds. The power forward shot 52.9 percent overall, good for third in C-USA. He blocked 60 shots, which ranked second on the school single-season register, and his 1.8 blocks per game average ranked third in the conference. Clanton also averaged 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game. At the conclusion of the regular season, he was named to the All-C-USA Third Team.
Clanton is just the second Knight to earn a spot on the Preseason All-C-USA First Team since UCF joined the league in 2005. As a senior, Jermaine Taylor was voted onto the 2008-09 first team.
The third-leading returning scorer in C-USA, Jordan averaged a team-best 15.2 points last year. He ranked ninth in the league in scoring. He also led the Knights in assists (3.3) and minutes (31.5) per game. Jordan spent time at both shooting and point guard and connected on a school single-season record 165 free throws. An All-C-USA Second Team pick at the end of the regular season, he shot 77.5 percent at the line, which ranked 10th in the conference.
Both Clanton and Jordan helped UCF to a memorable campaign a year ago under new head coach Donnie Jones. The Knights won 21 games, started the campaign with 14-straight wins, entered the national rankings for the first time and participated in the postseason College Basketball Invitational.
The Knights will open official practices for the 2011-12 campaign later this week. UCF fans can celebrate the start of the season Friday at UKNIGHT Madness at the UCF Arena. The free event will begin at 7:30 p.m., and will feature a dunk contest and 3-point contest as fans will get their first look at the Knights. Doors to the arena open at 6:30 p.m. for a season ticket select-a-seat event, and the first 1,000 UCF supporters to enter the building will receive a free t-shirt.
Season tickets, which start at just $96, are currently available by calling (407) UCF-1000 or by visiting UCFAthletics.com. The Knights will play 17 regular-season games at the UCF Arena, starting with their season opener on Nov. 12.
2011-12 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
DeAndre Kane, Marshall, G, 6-4, 200, So., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Will Barton, Memphis, G, 6-6, 175, So., Baltimore, Md.
Arsalan Kazemi, Rice, F, 6-7, 220, Jr., Esfahan, Iran
Kendall Timmons, Tulane, G/F, 6-5, 200, Jr., Fort Worth, Texas
Cameron Moore, UAB, F, 6-10, 230, Sr., San Antonio, Texas
Keith Clanton, UCF, F, 6-8, 245, Jr., Orlando, Fla.
2011-12 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Darrius Morrow, East Carolina, F, 6-8, 240, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.
Tarik Black, Memphis, F, 6-8, 243, So., Memphis, Tenn.
Joe Jackson, Memphis, G, 6-1, 164, So., Memphis, Tenn.
Robert Nyakundi, SMU, F, 6-8, 220, Sr., Arlington, Texas
Jordan Clarkson, Tulsa, G, 6-4, 195, So., San Antonio, Texas
Marcus Jordan, UCF, G, 6-3, 205, Jr., Chicago, Ill.