Meet the JuCo Transfers: USF’s Montray Clemons

January 26, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; DePaul Blue Demons forward Montray Clemons (35) handles the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. The Pittsburgh Panthers won 93-55. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Recently, DePaul has turned into a mini-feeder program for the University of San Francisco basketball program. Last offseason, the Dons landed transfer Derrell Robertson Jr., and this offseason they brought in his former Blue Demon teammate Montray Clemons.

Like Robertson, Clemons has big east experience and can make an impact to the USF frontcourt, whether it’s right from the get-go or down the road.

At DePaul

Clemons came in as a freshmen to DePaul, but his college basketball career was delayed when he ruptured his left patella tendon in the programs annual intra-squad scrimmage, “Blue Madness.”

After completing a redshirt season to rehab his injury, Clemons stepped into the rotation as a redshirt freshman. The Baltimore, Md. native averaged 1.3 points and 1.1 rebounds in a season where the Blue Demons went 11-21.

Clemons decided to leave DePaul after the season, along with Robertson Jr. and two other players. Clemons landed at a junior college, allowing him to play right away and not sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules.

At Pensacola State College

Clemons ended up at Pensacola State College in Florida for a year after leaving DePaul. The 6-foot-7 Clemons was productive at the junior college level, but not overly dominant. He averaged 7.7 points and 4.7 rebounds for PSC this past season, while shooting 52.3 percent from the field.

Eventually, Clemons would return to the Division I basketball fold after the season, signing with the Dons as a junior college transfer in April. According to Verbal Commits, Appalachian State and Rice were also vying for his services along with the Dons.

Impact at USF

The Dons and Head Coach Rex Walters have made clear what type of player they prefer: one that is big and physical.

San Francisco was successful with Kruize Pinkins, who was extremely assertive down low and productive as a result. Clemons appears to be fairly similar to Pinkins, but just a little more athletic and bouncy and less strong. While the frontcourt is fairly packed, if Clemons can come off the bench and give the Dons quality minutes at the power forward or small forward spot, he will be a valuable asset to Walters and the Dons.