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New Recruit - Clay Wilson.

It only took two days for forward Denton Koon to have company in Princeton's 2011 recruiting class.

Joining him is a true gym rat, 6'3" guard Clay Wilson from Lincoln Christian School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Wilson made his intentions known yesterday that he will attend Princeton next fall pending admission.

Today I talked with Wilson's high school coach Teddy Owens about this gifted shooter. Exclusive quotes, numerous videos and an assortment of articles and evaluations can be found after the jump.

Wilson attended the Tigers' Elite Camp earlier this summer and fell in love with the Princeton campus. Owens made it clear that once Wilson gets in to Jadwin Gym, it may be difficult to send him away from the building.

"He's a kid you've got to kick out of the gym. After you kick him out of the gym he goes to hide behind the bleachers to wait for you to leave," said Owens. "We've had to tell him at times that when we kick you out of the gym you have to stay out! He always want to be there. He's put in a lot of work to get where he's at."

While Wilson had building interest from a number of major programs and also was invited to Clemson's basketball summer camp, he was won over by Princeton coach Sydney Johnson's commitment to defense.

"Clay likes challenges. He likes being challenged on the court and being challenged in the classroom," Owens said. "He loves defense. We have a strong defensive philosophy in our program and Clay has really bought into that. I think overall he's just a perfect fit for Princeton."

Wilson's commitment to both sides of the ball is overshadowed on first glance by his enormous offensive output.

"Over the last two years - his sophomore year he averaged over 20 points a game and then this year he did the same again despite seeing double teams, box and ones, triangle and twos that focused on him," explained Owens, who has coached Wilson and the Bulldogs the past two seasons. "I think this year he's going to score about 30 points a game. That's just because he's improved so much."

"He's gotten stronger physically and he's worked on the weaknesses of his game, the perceived weaknesses, whatever he thought he needed to work on instead of just staying with his strengths," Owens added. "He's gone and worked on those things that will make him better at this level and the next level."

Pressed about these weaknesses, Owens explained that "Clay has always been a phenomenal shooter. He can really light it up from outside. Early on, his sophomore year, he realized people can cover me too easily if I am just a three point shooter. If I can put it on the floor and drive and create some shots, I am a lot harder to guard. He needed to work on moving without the ball. He's become a lot better getting himself open, knowing how to use screens and knowing how free himself up off the ball. He's become a lot better ballhandler on the floor."

In some regards, Owens feels Wilson, who models his game after Steve Nash's, is a bit of a throwback. "He's a great midrange shooter," Owens said with pride. "You just don't see many guys work on their midrange game. Kids today either want to be great shooters or they want to be dunkers. Clay's trying to get away from that and really develop his midrange game."

"Another thing he's worked on is his explosive first step," Owens stated. "If he's being guarded closely, he doesn't just put the ball on the floor, he gets his legs by the defender and it is hard to catch up. He's got such a quick pull up and can finish at the rim well too."

While Wilson plays for an unaffiliated school that has been bumped up into Oklahoma's 3A designation this season from 2A, it was his time with an AAU power that first got him noticed by many D-I programs.

"Playing with Athletes First, one of the better national AAU teams has really helped his stock," said Owens. "A lot of kids will say 'Well, I don't get seen at the 2A or 3A level.' I think stats help that. I think when a kid is averaging 20 points per game it is a lot easier to be seen. It is certainly not always great for high school coaches, kids playing AAU, because I think a lot of time they learn bad habits in certain systems where they're not taught, they just go out and play."

"For Clay, Clay really needed to be seen by coaches. I know Coach Johnson started recruiting him before he was with Athletes First," continued Owens. "I know that helped reassure Coach Johnson that Clay could play for Princeton when he saw him play with Athletes First and with other good players."

Owens also praised Wilson's selflessness despite being a prolific scorer, recalling times Wilson suggested Owens take him out of the game so the Bulldogs could play against straight up man defense from the opposition.

Deciding where he would play collegiately over a month before his senior year in high school begins is a good thing in the eyes of Wilson's coach.

"Committing to Princeton early, all that pressure is off Clay now going into the season. He knows where he wants to go," said Owens. "He loves Princeton. His family loves Princeton. There's a lifted weight off his back now that will allow him to focus on the upcoming season. I think he's the best player in our classification because he can do so many different things that most kids can't do and I think he's one of the best players in the state. I'm looking forward to getting to coach him this last year."

While Wilson will wear orange and black in 2011, his coach is already thrilled to live vicariously through his standout guard.

"I'm really excited for him to go to Princeton. I told Coach Johnson early on that I always wanted to go to Princeton. Growing up I loved Coach Carril's offense," Owens confessed. "I never had the grades and I didn't have the skill to go there so I am really excited for Clay to be able to have the opportunity."

Owens and Wilson will get a chance to watch the Tigers in person on December 12th of this year, when Princeton visits Tulsa.

"We were looking at the schedule today and making sure we weren't playing at the same time," admitted Owens. "That will be fun for Clay and fun for me."

Hopefully as fun as watching Wilson play four seasons inside a new gym to call home.

Wlson (#1) scores 19 to lead LCS over Yale.

Sports Net Oklahoma talks to Wilson.

Image for MaxPreps Video.

MaxPreps junior year highlight package.

Image for MaxPreps Video.

MaxPreps sophomore year highlight package.

Coach's Aid went to see Clay Wilson play and raved about his game.

Wilson was named Third Team All-State by Tulsa World.

MaxPreps offers some additional stats on Wilson's page.

A Rivals feature on Wilson discusses the interest Minnesota was developing in him.

Wilson was honored as Tulsa World Player of the Week during the 2009-10 season and was one of five Players to Watch for the paper before last season.

Schoolboy Hoops put Wilson on their All-Oklahoma Underclass Team after his sophomore year and name Wilson #26 in their 2011 Top 30

Wilson scored 32 points to help Lincoln win the Agra Tournament for the second straight year.

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