Bearkats sign Gilberto Clavell from Collin County CC
5/7/2009 6:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Sam Houston State men's basketball coach Bob Marlin has announced the signing of Gilberto Clavell, a 6-6 forward from Collin County Community College.
Clavell averaged 16 points and 6.5 rebounds for Collin County which finished the season 27-5.
“This is really is nice signing for us and we are happy to have him,” Marlin said. “He is a really good scorer and defender, and after losing Barkley (Falkner) he will step right in and help fill a void on the inside. He has the physical ability and experience to fit right in a play right now.”
Clavell was named the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the year, NTJCAC and Region 5 First Team. He was also named the NJCAA Coaches Association All-Star Game MVP with 19 points and 8 rebounds.
In addition to his time at Collin County, Clavell also has played for the Puerto Rican National Team. In the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship he averaged 12 points a game including a 29 point performance against Korea. In the 2006 FIBA Tournament of the Americas, he averaged 11.8 points a game in a competition that featured Michael Beasley (Miami Heat), Stanley Robinson (Connecticut), Kyle Singler (Duke) and Johnny Flynn (Syracuse).
Clavell is a player Marlin has followed for several years going back to high school.
“He was at Florida Air Academy where Domas (Kvedys) played and his coach is a former player of mine,” Marlin said. “He is a guy I have known for four years, so we are very happy to have him here at Sam Houston.”
This past season, Clavell scored in double figures in all but one game with a season high of 27 points. He also shot 81.5 percent from the free throw line and 61 percent from the floor.
“Gilberto is a great young man,” Collin County head coach Jim Sigona said. “He is a high energy guy all the time. If he isn't in the gym, he is in the weightroom. Big or small, he is going to get in there and mix it up.
“The thing people don't understand about him is that he averaged 16 and 7, but he shot 82 percent from the free throw line. He can get in there and get fouled, make the shot and then hit the free throw. That is crucial in close games because you can go inside to him and you are going to get points.”
