USC Aiken guard remembered by teammates, coaches
Wes Mayle
Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: News
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"The last conversation, like as always, wasn't about him; it was about somebody else," said Commons, a senior at USC Aiken. "It was about me, and he was just telling me that while my career (in basketball) was over, I need to keep going."
On March 18, the morning after USC Aiken's loss to Augusta State University in the Southeast Region Championship game of the NCAA Division Tournament, Clanton was killed in a car accident in Jackson County, W.Va., according to WTAP, a Parkersburg, W.Va., news affiliate.
"As you guys can imagine…our program has been very sad," said Vince Alexander, head coach of the USC Aiken men's basketball team. "You know, we lose in a regional championship game, and then we lose one of our family members. It's been pretty rough."
The accident occurred between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m. According to WTAP's Web site, the 20-year-old was traveling north on I-77 near Fairplain, W.Va., on the way home to Reynoldsburg, Ohio, when he went off the road to the left, rolled the vehicle and was ejected from the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chief Deputy Bruce Dewees said Clanton may have fallen asleep at the wheel, according to the Web site.
Considering Clanton had classes scheduled the rest of the week, Alexander said he was not sure why Clanton decided to leave so late, but he said it might have had to do with a medical condition involving his mother. Alexander said Clanton sent at least one professor an e-mail saying he would miss class.
Clanton, a transfer from Blinn Junior College, was a junior starting guard for the Pacers and a communications major.
Brian Egwuatu, a senior teammate of Clanton's, said he remembered Clanton dancing in the locker room, trying to make everyone happy.
"He was really somebody who wasn't happy unless he saw someone else happy," Egwuatu said.
Although Clanton kept a tough demeanor on the court, he wasn't like that around his friends, Commons said.
"People didn't realize just the character of a person he was," he said. "He wasn't a hardcore person like you see on the court. He was soft when it came to being around his friends because he cared."
According to Alexander, Clanton had the highest GPA of any player on the basketball team. He also said that Clanton was the most determined players he has ever coached.
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