Clifford Realizes Division I Dream
It was almost exactly a year ago that Mike Clifford really began to make a name for himself among college coaches. He seemed to be dominating exposure events on a weekly basis last spring until his surge up recruiting lists was stopped just as quickly as it started after he broke his leg just prior to the summer live period.
“After the injury it really kind of put the division I dream aside,” Clifford conceded to the New England Recruiting Report.
But the 6’7” big man put in long hours of rehab, which ultimately allowed him to return to the court ahead of schedule and in time for the beginning of the high school season. He was dominant from the start, as he put up 32 points & 15 rebounds on opening night and continuing to put up similarly huge numbers throughout the season.
On January 9th, the New England Recruiting Report published a story entitled “Clifford Bounces Back from Injury” detailing his tremendous senior season despite just overcoming the injury.
The article tells of how Clifford was grateful the injury came when it did, so that he could be back in time to join his high school teammates and have a chance to compete for a state title.
In the two months after that story was published, Clifford’s dominance continued as there was virtually no other big man who could contend with him in Division III of the MIAA. Unfortunately for him though, those championship aspirations would fall just a bit short as he and his Bishop Fenwick team would fall in the section finals to eventual state champions Watertown.
But despite not fulfilling those dreams of a championship, Clifford’s tremendous season was enough to once again capture the attention of college coaches.
Last week, Clifford took an official visit to the University of Buffalo and liked what he saw. Apparently it was mutual as the Bulls offered a scholarship just a day later. It didn’t take the big man long to make up his mind as he offered head coach Reggie Witherspoon a verbal commitment the very next day.
“They really have a great coaching staff that connects well with the kids,” Clifford began.
But perhaps the biggest reason for Clifford’s commitment is the chance to chase his next dream.
“Playing in the NCAA tournament has always been my ultimate goal,” he said. “They had a really good team this year and missed getting into the tournament by one game. With everybody but three seniors coming back, hopefully we can make it next year.”
And so with one dream now realized...Mike Clifford is off to pursue the next.
Mike Clifford