USC-A Remembers Javonte Clanton

AIKEN, S.C. - USC-Aiken head basketball coach Vince Alexander spoke to reporters Friday morning for the first time since the death of starting shooting guard Javonte Clanton on Wednesday.

“He was a funny kid,“ Alexander remembered of Clanton, “always wanting to have a good time.“

Flanked by senior forwards Chris Commons and Brian Egwuatu, Alexander said he was unaware that Clanton had planned to drive back to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio after the Pacers’ loss in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament Tuesday night in Augusta.  Clanton was killed when, police say, he fell asleep behind the wheel on I-77 in West Virginia.

“I’m not certain (why he went),“ said Alexander.  “I’ve heard a few things. I had heard his mother had surgery and that he went to be with her.  He was very close to his family and took any chance he could to go see them.“

Alexander said Clanton, who had the highest grade point average on the Pacer team, had arranged to make up classes when he planned to return to Aiken next week.

“Javonte was going to get his academics,“ Alexander said.  “He sent an e-mail to a professor to make sure he could catch up on Monday, when he came back.“

Thursday night, hundreds, including at least two members of rival Augusta State’s team, gathered on the campus of USC-Aiken for a candlelight vigil to honor Clanton.

“That meant a lot,“ Alexander said of the Augusta State presence.  “Those guys are class acts.“

Friday morning, teammates remembered a friend who kept them loose in the locker room with dance moves and impersonations of Coach Alexander, while leading the Pacers on the court as the team’s third-leading scorer.

“I think of him like he’s still here.  I think of him getting on my nerves,“ Commons said with a laugh.

Commons, the Peach Belt Player of the Year, was selected Friday to play in the Division II All-Star game next Friday in Springfield, Massachusetts.  He said he would play the game to honor Clanton.  His final conversation with Clanton occured late Tuesday night after the team returned from its loss in Augusta.

“It sticks with me because it was about me.  He only cared about everybody else and what they were going through. He wasn’t hard like he was on the court, he was soft, always listening, always encouraging.“

“I gave him a hug and said ‘See ya later’” recalled Egwuatu.

Hours later, Clanton was dead, leaving his teammates, coaches and a community to mourn his loss.

“I’ve talked to his Grandmother,“ Alexander said.  “That gave me great peace yesterday.  She was at peace which put me at peace, because that Javonte was everything to her.“

Clanton’s locker in the Convocation Center sits untouched since Wednesday, some of his belongings still sitting at the bottom.  A placard bears his name.

“We’re going to put a picture of him in our locker room,“ Alexander said while fighting back tears, “to make sure that anyone who wears that number 22 has the same kind of heart Javonte Clanton had. His impact on our program will never leave.“

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Clanton’s family and the school are also setting up a “Javonte Clanton Memorial Scholarship”.  Contributions can be sent to:

Office of University Advancement at USC Aiken
471 University Parkway
Aiken, SC 29801

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Funeral arrangements for Javonte Clanton were announced on Friday.  The viewing and service will be held at First Church of God in Columbus, Ohio next Tuesday, March 24th.  The viewing will take place at 10am preceding the service at noon.

USC-Aiken coaches and players say they will travel together to attend the funeral.