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Clayton sets blocking record, leads defense |
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Tuesday, 05 February 2008 |
by RYAN WIXTED
Sports Editor
Reading his opponent’s body language, understanding his next move, and then just when his opponent thinks he has him beat, it happens.
The process of blocking a shot can be viewed several different ways, but for Appalachian State University senior forward Jeremy Clayton, his process has not changed since he picked up a basketball, and rightfully so.
 Photo by Derek DeSha
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In
Saturday’s win against Western Carolina University, the 6-foot-7-inch
Greensboro native blocked one shot to surpass Rick Nedd’s record for
block shots in an ASU career.
Clayton
now sits at 194 career blocks, but this isn’t anything new to Clayton,
who has been blocking shots since he was a youth.
“The first thing I was taught when I was little is to block shots,” Clayton said. “I just take that and go with it.”
So far in this season, Clayton has blocked 49 shots and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.
In
the Jan.17 game versus the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga,
Clayton tied an Appalachian single game record for blocked shots with
eight.
He followed that performance up in the next game with five blocks versus Georgia Southern University.
Clayton said his blocks don’t just bring excitement to himself, but the team and the crowd as well.
“It’s
an energy play so I just try to bring it,” Clayton said. “If we’re not
scoring good or not doing anything good, I try to get a block shot. I
just try to get the team going and the fans going.”
Despite his achievements, Clayton is the first to credit his teammates with his defensive accolades.
“I
get most of them off help side,” Clayton said. “It’s good to have guys
like [Donte] Minter, Ike [Butts], and Davis [Bowne] that can block me
off. The people don’t see me coming.”
With nine games left, Clayton hopes to lead the team with his defensive play and build upon his career blocks.
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