Clark Opts to Stay Home, Transfer to San Diego State

Tony Clark, a former standout at Valhalla and Christian High Schools who quit the University of Arizona basketball team last week, is transferring to San Diego State, SDSU Coach Jim Brandenburg confirmed Thursday.

Clark, citing personal reasons and a lack of sufficient playing time, left Arizona after just five games in his freshman season. He will enroll in SDSU immediately and, if he fulfills proper academic requirements, would become eligible in mid-December.

“I’m ecstatic about it,” SDSU Coach Jim Brandenburg said. “I think he’s a great player with even greater potential.

“The one thing he can do is bring some tremendous perimeter shooting to our program.”

Said Clark: “Vicinity was important, but so was the fact that I have a great deal of respect for the coach. I hope to come in and do whatever I can to help myself and help the program.”

Clark, 6-feet-8, 215 pounds, was the No. 2 pick overall by the Detroit Tigers in the major league baseball June free agent draft last summer and spent July and August playing in Bristol, Va., home of the Tigers’ single-A affiliate. He does not need to get released from Arizona because he is not on a scholarship--according to terms of his contract, the Tigers are paying for his college education.

Clark says he will attend Aztec practices immediately, but won’t play until he has fully rested his back--painful spasms caused him to miss five games at Arizona.

Although he is looking forward to contributing right away, Clark said he knows there are no guarantees.

“I know I’ll have to earn a starting position, just like anyone,” he said. “But I felt the opportunities were too good here to pass up.”

“He was to the burned-out point,” said Art Clark, Tony’s father. “It’s a salve to be a little closer to home. He’s happy now.”

In his senior year at Christian High School, Clark averaged 43.7 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, 3.3 blocked shots and 2.3 steals.