Sunrise Christian Academy big man Zach Clemence picks Kansas, his ‘dream school’
Zach Clemence, a 6-foot-10, 215-pound senior-to-be power forward from Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, has committed to play basketball for the KU Jayhawks.
Clemence is the No. 31-ranked player in the recruiting Class of 2021, according to Rivals.com.
“I am really excited. Kansas has always been a dream school for me,” Clemence, who is originally from San Antonio, Texas, told The Star late Monday morning in a phone interview. He made his commitment to KU coach Bill Self on Monday morning.
“I’ve been there a lot. I went to a couple of camps when I was little. I’ve been to a bunch of games. It’s a great campus, a great fan base. I really like the campus and people, everything about the school and program.”
Clemence said he chose KU over Baylor, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Arkansas and others.
“I chose now,” Clemence said, “because I had a great conversation with the coaches. I figured, why skip on a great opportunity?”
Clemence said, “Coach Self is a great coach. He’ll push me to my max whatever it is.”
Of his game, he said: “I am a stretch 4 if anything. I play a solid 5. Versatility, shooting, running up and down, rebounding of course, blocking shots.”
Asked if he was concerned about KU’s infractions case with the NCAA, he said: “No. I know Kansas is a top school in the country. I’m excited that I will be playing there.”
Rivals.com’s Eric Bossi said this of Clemence: “Though still thin, Clemence is a highly mobile big man who proved during his junior season at Sunrise that he can compete against stronger players,” writes Eric Bossi of Rivals.com. “He developed as a rim protector and rebounder but his true calling card is his skill level. He has low post game but what makes him most dangerous is his ability to step out and shoot from distance where he is among the best shooters in the junior class, regardless of position.
“Clemence is the first member of a 2021 recruiting class in which Kansas hopes to score big locally. Clemence five-star teammate at Sunrise Christian Kendall Brown has visited Lawrence multiple times as has four-star guard Tamar Bates from nearby Kansas City,” Bossi adds.
This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 12:58 PM with the headline "Sunrise Christian Academy big man Zach Clemence picks Kansas, his ‘dream school’."
