UTEP coach Tim Floyd and his staff are still hot on the recruiting trail, and have now turned their attention to 6'3 JUCO point guard Gian Clavell. Clavell, who is originally from Cauguas, Puerto Rico, was recruited some out of high school, but went unsigned, and found himself at Northwest Kansas Technical College for the 2012-13 season.
Is his lone season with the Mavericks, Clavell averaged 19.4 points a game, scoring more than 20 points on 15 occasions, and ended the season with seven straight 20+ point games. He also averaged 6.7 rebounds, to go along with 4 assists, while shooting 39.2% from three point land.
Clavell had initially committed to Ole Miss as a part of the 2014 recruiting class, but he has since decommitted. UTEP is now the latest to offer the guard, and the Miners are apprently high on his list.
Rumors had been swirling that Clavell could potentially sneak into the class of 2013, but after speaking with sources at UTEP, that is not the case. Clavell will remain at Northwest Kansas Tech for another, but the Miners are in the running for his services.
Clavell would be a huge help to a back court that is talented, but that isn't extremely deep. And, while somehow, he's gone a bit unnoticed throughout most of his basketball career, he could be one that could make a great and immediate impact here at the division I level.
Of course, its hard to judge a guy simply by what he's done at the juco level, but he's a guy with good size, a nice shot, and who does a little bit of everything. If he can continue that at the next level, he could be a hell of an asset.
One media outlet, www.usportshub.com, compared him to Ole Miss senior guard Marshall Henderson.
We'll bring you any updates on the situation as they become available, so make sure to stay tuned to MinerRush for updates on this, and all things UTEP sports.