Stockman, Clifton to leave Clemson

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Posted 7:12AM on Friday, March 29, 2002

CLEMSON, S.C. - Tony Stockman, Clemson's second-leading scorer, is leaving the Tigers for a school closer to his Ohio home. Stockman, a sophomore, had averaged 12.2 points a game this year. He was expected to combine with Edward Scott, a member of the all-Atlantic Coast Conference's third team, to form one of the league's top backcourts next season. Dwon Clifton, a sophomore guard, also has chosen to transfer for a school around his hometown of High Point, N.C. Stockman said he sent information to Ohio State for a possible transfer. ``It's nothing against Clemson,'' he said Thursday evening. ``I had some great times here and really appreciate what everybody's done for me. I just don't want my mom to drive 20 hours to see me.'' Clemson coach Larry Shyatt said both hoped to play closer to where they live. ``They are fine young men who have represented the program well,'' said Shyatt, in Atlanta for the Final Four. ``I don't know that things change for us that much,'' Shyatt said by cell phone Thursday. Shyatt says the Tigers still will count on their four solid inside returnees forwards Ray Henderson, Chris Hobbs, Tomas Nagys and Sherrod Ford - and Scott to run the show. ``I think what this does is let Chey and Olu get a chance to flourish,'' Shyatt said. Chey Christie, a freshman this past season, is a 6-foot-4 guard who combines a star-quality scorer's ability with tough defense. He averaged 5.4 points a game in just under 16 minutes per contest. ``Chey is a guy with oodles of talent, he's a clearheaded player who'll be a rising sophomore for us,'' Shyatt said. Olu Babalola, at 6-6 and 245 pounds, will bolster the inside. The moves give Shyatt the chance to bring in a fourth recruit for next season. Clemson signed Shawan Robinson, a 6-2 guard from Raleigh, N.C., and Akin Akingbala, a 6-9 forward from Nigeria and Greenwich, Conn. The Tigers got a commitment this week from Julian Betko, a 6-5 wing player from Slovakia now playing for Sharon (Pa.) High School. Robinson should give Clemson immediate help ``as a primary ball handler and deep shooter,'' Shyatt said. That had been the job of Stockman, a co-Mr. Basketball in Ohio his senior season at Medina High. He led Clemson with 78 3-pointers this year - more than double any other Tiger and was not afraid to take shots that made his coach and Clemson fans wince at times. ``He plays on instinct,'' Shyatt said in the team's media guide. One of Stockman's most memorable shots was a long pull-up 3-pointer in the final minute of Clemson's 75-65 victory over North Carolina on Feb. 18, 2001, the Tigers' first win over a No. 1 team in 21 years. ``It didn't surprise me he took it and it didn't surprise me he made it,'' Shyatt said then. ``But I was relieved when it went in.'' ``That was a special moment,'' Stockman said Thursday. Stockman's streaky nature showed at times this year as well. He scored 22 points against Florida State, but only two in the second half as the Seminoles rallied from 10-points down to win. Stockman had 28 points at halftime against the Tar Heels last month, but finished with 30 in Clemson's loss. Stockman says he hopes playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference against some of the leading teams in the nation will lead the Buckeyes to give him a chance. ``I think I've played against some tough opponents here,'' he said. Clemson's Shyatt said last month he had arranged a home-and-home series with Cincinnati the next two seasons, partly so Stockman would play near his hometown as a senior. Clifton started seven of 30 games this year, averaging 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds a game. He is thought to be close to joining North Carolina Greensboro in the Southern Conference. Shyatt, who earlier this month received a two-year contract extension through 2005, says he expects no more changes to his returning roster before next season.