Senior point guard has learned to pace himself

For most of his high school career, Drexler Clark has known only one speed on the basketball court, which he says was “100 miles per hour.”

But after becoming point guard as a sophomore at newly opened Hough High two seasons ago, the Huskies’ senior leader has learned to pace his game and his team.

Clark is having his best season to date, averaging a career-best 17 points, four assists and three steals per game, and he is a big reason why Hough is off to its best start in school history at 9-2 overall (going into North Meck game).

“When I first started at Hough, I tried to go too fast, and I think the game was all coming at me too fast, both mentally and physically,” Clark said. “But as I’ve grown up, everything has slowed down for me. I’ve learned how to use my speed the right way.”

The 6-foot, 160-pound point guard can still be a blur for opposing defenses, as he uses his change of pace and quickness to put constant pressure on opponents. Other teams routinely have trouble staying in front of him, which creates more offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Clark has array of options, starting with the return of 6-foot-7 forward Luke Maye, who missed time with a knee injury but is quickly establishing himself as one of the top players in the area, averaging 18 points, 14 rebounds per contest.

The Huskies boast a veteran cast of weapons, including rugged 6-foot-2 forward Sanders Poff (6 ppg, 4 rpg), who is not only his team defensive stopper but always seems to make the tough plays that don’t end up in the box score. Meanwhile, Clark’s running mates on the perimeter for the last three years have been wings Jaqueaz Jackson (8 ppg) and Theo Mack (6 ppg), who give Hough a balanced attack that makes them tough to stop.

Add in 6-foot-10 sixth man Tucker Thompson, reserve guard Ryan Friday and Akeem “A.J.” Barringer, and coach Justin Batts says he has a team that believes it can compete for an I-Meck title and more, with Clark running the show.

“Drexler has grown up and grown a ton as a player since he came to us as a sophomore,” said Batts, noting that he didn’t meet Clark until two weeks before Hough’s first practice started. “I feel like he really started to get comfortable and gain confidence last season when Maye went down (with a knee injury). He really stepped up and was able to carry that over in the summer and this season.”

While Hough is off to a strong start, it all began this summer, when the Huskies went 14-1 overall at the Clemson and UNC Charlotte team camps. Hough, which was 12-38 combined in its first two seasons, started to realize that they could win consistently together.

“We worked our butts off on the court and in the weight room this summer,” Batts said. “I think summer camps were big because this team really got to experience winning together (a lot) for the first time.”

All that momentum has spilled in the 2012-13 season, where Hough is not only winning games, but beating teams that didn’t in the past, including a 2-0 mark in conference play already with road wins at Vance and Hopewell.

Hough also won the West Ashley Classic tournament in Charleston, S.C., beating Alcovy High of Georgia, Coral Gables (Fla.) High and Ooltewah High of Tennessee in successive days. Clark was huge in the championship, scoring 23 points and nabbing five steals to lead the way and also made the all-tournament team with Maye, who was MVP.

A major factor in Clark’s success has also been his improved shot, as he is shooting 55 percent from the field and three-point line so far this season.

“What we have been able to do so far this season has given us a major confidence boast,” Clark said. “It feels good not only to compete, but to win games.”

Clark also says his team was inspired by the Hough football team (9-3), which went from a team in the lower half of the conference to a squad on the brink of winning the I-Meck. Clark and his teammates hope to pull off a similar run on the hardwood.

While Clark looks to help make Hough a factor in I-Meck and beyond, he also hopes it pays off for him on the recruiting trail.

Right now, Batts says Clark has interest from Belmont Abbey, Pfeiffer, Lincoln Memorial and Tennessee Martin, but with his play so far this year, more teams will soon follow.

Clark says he hopes that his play on the court, will speak for itself.

“I definitely want to play at the next level as bad as anyone,” Clark said. “But all I can do now is worry about and focus on my senior year.”