Latest Wichita State commitment has been dreaming of ‘Playing Angry’ for years
From the moment Clarence Jackson watched Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker in the NCAA Tournament and learned that Wichita State players “play angry,” he fell in love with the Shockers.
When he was passed over by Division I programs coming out of high school in Dublin, Georgia, Jackson took a prove-it opportunity at Polk State, a community college in Florida, and told the coaches that he wanted to some day earn a scholarship offer from Wichita State.
That dream scenario played out Monday as Jackson, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound versatile forward with three years of immediate eligibility, announced he had committed to the Shockers. He became the fifth commitment in the last three days for WSU coach Gregg Marshall.
“Man, it’s crazy because growing up I would watch them in the NCAA Tournament every year and I remember being impressed with how hard they played,” Jackson said. “’Play Angry’ is a perfect fit to my style. That’s the way I love to play. So really I was sold from Day One. I knew I always wanted to go to Wichita State.”
Jackson averaged 13.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in his freshman season at Polk State and figures to give WSU depth on the wing and also behind senior Trey Wade at power forward. With his passion for defense and his athleticism and length at 6-6, Jackson says he feel like he can guard anyone, from point guard to power forward, for the Shockers.
Like Wade, who is also a bit undersized at 6-6, Jackson plays bigger than his size. He registered 13 double-doubles, including a 24-point and 20-rebound effort in November.
“I’m a tough dude. I’m a hard-nosed player. I go crazy out there,” Jackson said. “As far as energy, you won’t catch anybody with more energy than me. Whether it’s chasing after a rebound or taking the ball away from another guy or dunking it, I can do it all.”
After leaving high school with no Division I offers, Jackson had more than 20 scholarship opportunities after his first season at the junior-college level. He said he picked WSU over other finalists in LSU, Texas Tech, New Mexico State, Boise State and Iona. WSU’s recruitment was spearheaded by assistant Isaac Brown.
Jackson joins Connecticut graduate transfer Alterique Gilbert, junior-college combo guard Craig Porter and a pair of high-flying freshmen wings in Ricky Council IV and Chaunce Jenkins as WSU’s spring recruiting haul.
Monday produced more news for WSU’s 2020 recruiting class, as Marshall confirmed to The Eagle that fall signee JaDun Michael, a 6-foot-5 high school wing from Burlington, North Carolina, was released from his letter of intent with WSU.
“I think people forget that I’m not even 18 yet and with everything that’s going on in the world right now, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving so far from home,” Michael told The Eagle.
“Things happen and with the virus outbreak and this kid being 17 and his parents and he not wanting to go halfway across the country, as a parent you can certainly understand that,” Marshall told the Eagle. “We only want people who are both feet in. We like JaDun a lot and we respect he and his family and I’m going to let him out of his letter to pursue another opportunity and wish him the absolute best.”
WSU was able to still stockpile a pair of long, athletic wings coming out of high school in its recruiting class with Council IV and Jenkins. Meanwhile, Michael, a four-star prospect by 247 Sports and a three-star prospect by Rivals, said the situation worked out best for both sides because now he is able to reopen his recruitment and still potentially play in the 2020-21 season.
“It’s love from both sides of the relationship,” Michael said. “Coach Marshall knows that I love him and I have love for the program. I for sure wanted to be a Shocker. I just wasn’t comfortable traveling so far away with how the world is right now. If not for that, I would be a Shocker.”
It’s been a busy spring for the Shockers, who had seven scholarship players leave the program since the end of the season. But the mass exodus hasn’t affected WSU’s recruiting, as Jackson, like the other recruits, said they viewed it more as an opportunity for themselves.
“Of course I asked the question of, ‘Why?’ but after talking with coach (Marshall), I felt comfortable with him,” Jackson said. “I was never really alarmed. I just told him, ‘I’m your guy.’ I wanted to come and they gave me this opportunity and I can’t wait to get there.”
This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 4:24 PM.
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