Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell scored his first commitment for the 2016 class Wednesday, snagging St. George (Va.) Blue Ridge wing Scott Spencer.
Spencer (6-5, 195) emerged as a target through the course of July and had a 32-point performance in the final tournament of the evaluation period.
He discussed how the pledge unfolded in this interview with TigerIllustrated.com:
TI: This came together fairly quickly for you. What about Clemson compelled you to go ahead and pull the trigger?
Spencer: “Clemson jumped in the mix a little late. I played for Boo Williams and then switched to Team Wall, and my first tournament I played with them down in Atlanta. It was great; Clemson was there, and we played with unbelievable chemistry.
“So one day before we played at Myrtle Beach, I received a text message saying you are now on Clemson’s radar. So that right there, I knew I had to get their attention. I saw them at almost every game.
“Then they came to Las Vegas to recruit me, and I saw them at every game there. We went down to the campus a week ago, and I loved it. It was a great campus. The coaches were great, and I just knew it was a great fit.”
TI: What do you feel like are the strengths to your game?
Spencer: “I definitely shoot the basketball well. That’s what I would bring to the table for Clemson. Shooting is my strength.”
TI: You hit eight 3s in one game late last month …
Spencer: "(Laughs) Yeah, I tried.
TI: The unofficial visit you took to Clemson last weekend must have resonated, then?
Spencer: “It was great. It was on short notice. My dad was off, so we just picked up our stuff and went. When we got there, the campus was beautiful. They showed me the classrooms and all. Their facilities are under construction obviously, so I didn’t get to see that.
“But the head coach took me around and showed me the dorms. It just felt right being around him and that type of atmosphere.”
TI: Steve Smith served as your primary recruiter. What were your impressions of him?
Spencer: “He’s a great coach. When I have talked to him, it really sounds like he believes in me. He has faith and trust in me. And that’s what I’m big on.”
TI: Your profile picked up last month. Richmond was heavily after you. Who else did you hear from as word circulated?
Spencer: “As you said, there was Richmond. Alabama came in, then I had Boston College. Hofstra, Wofford, Murray State were heavily recruiting me. Miami jumped in the picture late as well.
“When I got to Team Wall, everything kicked up and it just skyrocketed from mid-majors to high-majors.
TI: You grew up with prominent ACC programs around you. Did playing in this conference appeal to you?
Spencer: “It does. I always wanted to play in the ACC and play against the best of the best.
“There’s only one conference that’s better than the ACC, and that’s the NBA. So I’ve always wanted to compete at the highest level.”
(Photos courtesy of Matthew Hatfield/VirginiaPreps.com)
