Basketball Signs Rice; Bet'ko To Follow

by Dan Scott - Correspondent - Wed Apr 10 14:55:47 GMT-04:00 2002

CLEMSON -- According to sources close to the situation, Clemson will announce the signing of 6-7 shooting guard Lamar Rice of Mott JC in Michigan later this afternoon. The school also expects to announce on Thursday the official signing of 6-5 Slovakian swingman Julian Bet’ko. Sources say Bet’ko has signed his letter on intent, but the official announcement can not be made until his mother in Slovakia also signs and faxes the letter back to Clemson. More details will be forthcoming this afternoon.

The two signings would bring the size of Clemson’s recruiting class to four. Clemson signed 6-9 forward Akin Akingbala of Greenwich, Conn. and 6-2 guard Shawan Robinson of Raleigh, N.C. in the early signing period.

Clemson Signs Lamar Rice

Clemson, SC-Lamar Rice, a 6-7, 215-pound forward from Flint, MI

has signed a national letter of intent with the Clemson men's

basketball program. Rice will enter Clemson as a junior this

coming August. He attended Flint Southwestern Academy High School in

Flint, MI prior to his junior college career.

Rice averaged 16 points and seven rebounds per game at Mott

Community College for Coach Steve Schmidt's team in Flint, MI this

past season. He also shot 57 percent from the field and blocked 1.3

shots per game. He had a high scoring game of 32 points, a high

rebound game of 12 caroms and a high blocked shot game of 11

deflections.

Rice helped Mott Community College to a 65-8 record over two

seasons, including a number-one ranking in the final NJCAA Division

II national poll in 2001-02. He was an all-conference, all-region

and all-state selection as a freshman and a sophomore. He was an

honorable mention Junior College All-American this past season. He

was named to the National Junior College All-Tournament team each of

the last two years.

"Lamar has the capabilities to be a three-position player

for us," said Head Coach Larry Shyatt. "He is 6-7 and 215 pounds,

but still has some maturing to do physically. He can play the two,

three or four positions. He gives us an athletic and graceful player

on the wing, who is similar to Jamar McKnight, except he is two

inches taller.

"Matt Driscoll did a tremendous job recruiting Lamar the last

few months. We were impressed with his postseason performances,

especially in the national tournament. The more and more we see him

the better we feel about his abilities as a player and as a solid

citizen.

Rice is the third member of the Clemson signee class for

2002-03. In the early signing period the Tigers signed 6-2 guard

Shawan Robinson of Raleigh, NC and 6-9 forward Akin Akingbala of

Greenwich, CT.

CLEMSON LADY TIGERS SIGN LAUREN CHAUVIN

CLEMSON, SC-Clemson Lady Tiger Head Coach Jim Davis has announced the signing of Lauren Chauvin to a national letter of intent to play women's basketball at Clemson in 2002-03 Wednesday.

Chauvin is a 5'10" guard/forward and played at Vanderbilt Catholic High School in Houma, LA. Her hometown is in Thibodeau, LA. During her senior season, she averaged 15.0 ppg., 6.0 rpg., and 3.0 apg.

"Lauren is an excellent shooter with range," said Clemson Head Coach Jim Davis. "She is very athletic and she will help us with our perimeter shooting."