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Show Clyde leaves another mark for SU hoops By KYLE BENNEf JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT Miller had promised the young baJl player that he wouJd get more playing time than he actuaJly did. Although as a freshman he appeared in 25 of 27 games and had the third most blocks on the team , Clyde decid d to take h' talents el ewhere. le is hard to believe the humble, soft spoken , talented man io the mMdle for the SU Wanting to get clo er to home, and hearing about a winning basketball. program men's basketball team the past two years didn't even near Las Vegas, deciding on his new school would be an pick up a basketball until seventh grade . easy decision . He chose Dixie College. Returning to a Jc eem a though Kenyatta Clyde, the 6-foot-8, college close to home·tumed out to be a good move for 220-pound senior was born with a ball in his hand the Clyde as he averaged 13.6 points, 7 .7 rebounds, and 2 way he plays. Whether he is dunking on opponents, blocked shots per game his sophomore eason for the swatting balls into the seats, or getting 10 boards a Rebels. game, there is no doubt that Clyde is a star. After Dixie, Oyde·still had two yean; of eligibility le.ft. O}'de grew up in the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas, Wanting to remain close to his family In Las Vegas, and Nev. Like many kids, he was brought up playing wlth being recruited by then Southern Utah Assistant Coach Louis toys and his friends around the neighborhood. He had Wilson, Clyde decided to bring his talents to SUU. a nonnaJ life until age 13 when his best friend Larry The transition to SUU seemed to be a good one for both Treadwell, a current senior playing at WisconsinClyde, tbe Southern Utah fans, and the basketball staff. The Green Bay, encouraged Oyde to pic.k up a basketball. big man was able to continue his studies in criminal justice It was a love affair from then on. andP.E., while exceling on the court-giving the fans and Clyde never put the ball away after that day, and it coaching staff a talented and exciting player. was a good thing because not many people are born ln bis first year here at SUU, Clyde was named the Mid-Con with the tools to play at such a high level, especially Co-Newcomer of the year, an award th2t he is very proud of. after starting co play so late in life. The award is given yearly to new players in the Mjd-Con Clyde soon be.came a standout at Las Vegas High who make the most dramatic impact. The 'Bird star also School. As a senior, the big man was named Nevada ranked first in the Mid- Con in blocked shots, econd in Gatorade Player of the year after leading the state in scoring, and fourth overall in rebounds. He also led the coring and rebounding. The high school star was also 'Birds last season in scoring, boards, and blocks; and he is named an Adidas all-America , and two-time now second all time in outhem Utah history in blocked conference MVP. not to mention earning all-state firstshots. team honors. Clyde was also named the top player in ~ This past season, Clyde led the Mid-Con is coring with a the tatc, and one of the cop 50 players in the western 17.3 points per game and firushed econd in rebounding states co name a few of his accomplishments a a prep o with more than seven boards per game. star. Clyde said he hopes this won't be the end.of his basketball Due to Clyde' success as a prep, he was sought career. He has already received an invitation to showcase hi after by many teams. Several big-time colleges tried co GtaJents at an NBA camp. If scouts like what they ee from recruit him for his services. Baylor, Oregon, Wyoming, he will then be invited to come co camp for one of the _._____.___ ___;;:~-= Q, him BA teams. Pepperdine, long B ach tatc and Arizona State aJI tried to get the Nevada prep to help out their Kenyatta Clyde finished the season as the top scorer Clyde is aJso a newlywed, having tied the knot last respective team . in the Mid-Con averaging 17 points per game. September. His new wife Kaara is a very supportive figure in Baylor was the winner of. the recruiting war. Oyde his life he said. With all of his many accomplishments, the aid the campus, facilities , and university had a lot to offer for a rising basketball car. one he is mo t proud of is getting his education paid for through basketball , he said. "I really liked coach Harry Miller and the facilities on the Baylor campus, n Clyde Education is important to Clyde who said he wants something to faJI back on when said. "The people, community, and university also seemed very nice. It had a good bis basketball career comes co an end. When Clyde leave SUU he aid he would like atmo phere, and I felt like I could get a good education there. n co be remembered as a great person and basketball player, as weU as a good friend to However, the stay at Baylor was short for Clyde. Before igning with the Bears, the people here that know' him. s ~-II~ •lll'MltlJllll~·-i(iffi lfJ~1• 1Qflllljif41111~ SU gym squad faces Utah St. The SU gymnastic squad will look for their flfSt win of the season as they face Utah tate for the third time this year Saturday night. The Lady 'Birds have lost hoth meets to the Lady Aggies chi ea.son, " hich included losses in the season opener in Logan and most recently on Fcb.12 in the Centrum. In the last meet with SU, the Lady 'Birds hit their season high score as a team totalling 191 .950 in tire Centrum. SU is coming off a 191.450 score agajnst Missouri and Oklahoma last weekend. The 13th · ranked Oklahoma Sooners scored 193.352 over SU's s~ore and Mi ouri' 192.150 to win the meet. Heather Slack finished third in the all-around competition with a 38.600. lack scored a 9.8 on both the floor exercise and balance beam, and added a 9.6 on the uneven bars. Kym Franklin performed well in the all-around scoring a , 38.425 , Tamara Turley added a 38. 150 score and Suzi Clark cored a 37.825 . The highest score of the night was Franklin's 9.850 on the floor exercise. The Lady 'Birds ended up with a totaJ score of 48.575 on the floor, which included a 9.725 by Clark and a 9.7 from Turley. The ladies return home next week for a meet in the Centrum with BYU on March 13. The ladies clo e the home season on.March 15 when Boise State visits the Centrum. Lady 'Birds fall to Penguins By CHAD LAMB JOURNAL PORTS EDITOR Sarah Pratt added 10 points in the lo ing effort again t the Lady Penguins, and freshman Megan Lofthouse scored IO points as well . lt has been the play of the Before the beginning of the 1998-99 U women 's younger players that have helped pu h this team to basketball eason , the Lady 'Birds were ex{:lected to do another 16-12 record , and it make you wonder ju t no better than seventh place in what these ladie can do next the Mid-Con. Losing their star season with everyone but center Myndee Larsen , who led Myers and Alycia Adam the conf rcnce in both scoring returning. and bloc.ks, it looked to be a Myers will be greatly missed. rebuilding year for the ladies .Named co the Mid-Con allwho were faced with the conference first team this challenge of having just om: season, Myers averaged 13.3 returning starter back from a points per game which was team t~at went 16-12 lase season. ninth in the league in what was The ladies faced that considered a balanced attack for the Lady 'Birds. Don't challenge, which took them to the Mid-Con tournament as the forget junior Melissa f1ines, third seed (one seed higher than who was named Mid-Con player of the week three times last season), and a good shot at SU's first berth to the NCAA (the most of any player in the tournament. While the season conference) and recorded 10 ended with a tough 80-63 dpubJe-doubles during the semifinal loss to the Lady :.! year. Lofthouse, in her first ~ year of Division-I basketball, Penguins Monday, the lames are o was named the to the Mid-Con in no way dissapointed at what they accomplished this season. all-freshman team, and was a The lone returning starter, l:i force from the outside for the senior Sunny Myers, finished f5 ladies off the bench. with 21 · points to lead the Lady ~ The unfortunate thing for SU 'Birds, but it was the play of the L------11:.....--:!!i!lil!:l-:......i--....:..-_J!2. was the fact they had to go up younger players on the team that Sunny Myers scored 21 points tn her last game really stands out. Sophomore as a member of the SU women's hoop squad. (continued on page 14) j ,' - |