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Rambacker
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Date Posted: 21:58:05 05/15/05 Sun
In reply to:
Rambacker
's message, "We did not use our last scholarship to sign a high school player. The Spring signing period is over. PG Brian Johnson from Mt. Saint Joseph's in Baltimore will be attending prep school. We are now considering a transfer by either Manny Quezada from Rutgers or Jack McClinton from Siena. See the basketball recruiting thread below for more on this. McClinton is currently having trouble getting a release from his scholarship at Siena." on 21:18:16 05/14/05 Sat
Siena star wants out
School has yet to grant release to guard McClinton
By TIM WILKIN, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, May 12, 2005
LOUDONVILLE -- Jack McClinton, one of the best freshman basketball players in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, has requested a release from his scholarship at Siena College.
McClinton, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard, asked Siena athletic director John D'Argenio for the release on Monday. D'Argenio said the school would not immediately grant it.
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"We are not ready to make the decision right now," D'Argenio said Wednesday. "I need to talk to the coaching staff. To a certain extent, this did surprise me. I have to talk to (new coach) Fran (McCaffery) and talk about what this means to the program in this late stage of recruiting."
If McClinton leaves, McCaffery will have six scholarships available and seven players on the roster.
If Siena grants the release, McClinton is free to accept a scholarship elsewhere but NCAA rules require him to sit out a season if he goes to another Division I school. If Siena refuses, McClinton still can leave but would have to pay tuition for a year at his new school.
McClinton declined to talk about his situation on Wednesday. McCaffery also declined comment.
McClinton's father, also named Jack, did not return a message left at his home in Maryland.
"He told me about it before he asked for the release," said Siena freshman guard Tay Fisher, who considers McClinton one of his best friends. "I think he was kind of sad because he knew what an impact he made here. He was stuck between should he stay or should he go."
"We would like him to stay, but he has to do what he thinks is best for him," said freshman guard Kojo Mensah. "We'll miss him."
After Siena fired Rob Lanier in March, McClinton said he did not know if he wanted to stay because he had forged a strong relationship with the man who recruited him.
On April 1, the day McCaffery was introduced as the Siena coach, McClinton said he would wait before making a decision.
Lanier, who recently accepted an assistant coaching job at Virginia, declined to speak about McClinton's situation. He said he hasn't talked to his former player.
Sources around the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference said coaches from higher-level schools -- including North Carolina State and Providence -- had contacted MAAC coaches to ask about McClinton's skills.
McClinton averaged 13.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Saints, who finished with a 6-24 record.
After an early-season injury sidelined junior center Michael Haddix, McClinton became the team's best offensive player and was named to the MAAC's All-Rookie team.
"I thought he was very good for a freshman," Iona coach Jeff Ruland said. "But this is reality and you have to deal with it when a kid leaves. He was recruited by Rob and I don't know what happened after Rob left, but obviously he is not happy. Unfortunately, when things go wrong, the first thing a kid wants to do is transfer."
McClinton scored a career-high 30 points against Rider on Feb. 20, the home finale at Pepsi Arena.
"I thought he could have been one of the better guards to ever play in the league," said Canisius coach Mike MacDonald, who saw McClinton score 40 points in two games against his team. "These days, it seems that kids have so many people in their ear. Everyone says the school makes a commitment to the kid. Well, the kid also makes a commitment to the school. It's not going to be perfect all the time."
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