MDJ:
After being committed to Nebraska through the summer, Chase Clemmons decommitted from the Cornhuskers in September, not long before the start of his senior season at Etowah.
On Monday, Clemmons ensured that he would be playing his college basketball much closer to home than Lincoln, Nebraska. The 6-foot, 165-pound guard will just need to make the short trip down Interstate 575 after signing Kennesaw State.
New Kennesaw State coach Antoine Pettway, who took the Owls’ reins from Amir Abdur-Rahim earlier this month, had built a relationship with Clemmons during the recruiting process from when Pettway was an assistant at Alabama, and it paid off with a quick commitment from the three-star guard.
“It’s home for me,” Clemmons said. “It’s 20 minutes down the road, and I just felt like it was a great opportunity. Coach Amir set the pace for Kennesaw State, and our new coach, Pettway, came from Alabama, and he recruited me there. We built a great relationship, and when he came to Kennesaw State, it was a no-brainer.”
Clemmons said he and Pettway, who spent 15 years on Alabama’s staff, have a lot of similarities and they clicked right away, leading to a positive visit.
After Kennesaw State’s run to the NCAA Tournament, Clemmons is encouraged with the direction of the program, despite the coaching change. The Owls went 26-9 and won the ASUN Conference championship for the first time.
“I think we can just continue and build on that momentum from last year,” Clemmons said. “There will not be such a drastic change.”
Clemmons led Etowah (22-9) on a postseason run of its own during the 2022-23 season. The Eagles breezed through Region 6AAAAAA with an 11-1 record and won the region title against River Ridge on Feb. 17.
Etowah made the Class AAAAAA semifinals with wins over Paulding County, Pope and St. Pius X, but it fell to Alexander 56-53 in the final four. Clemmons’ ball-handling and scoring skills made for a dynamic backcourt alongside Virginia Tech signee Brandon Rechsteiner.
“It was a good journey,” Clemmons said. “I really appreciate all of the coaches there. They helped me a lot throughout that run, and I learned a lot. They helped prepare me for the next level.”
Clemmons amassed nine offers, including Houston, Georgia and Xavier, among others.
After reflecting on his decision to decommit from Nebraska, Clemmons said he knows he made the right decision based on the proximity to home and potential to find early success. His goal for when he arrives at Kennesaw State is simple — to fight for playing time as a freshman, and to win.
“I think my game is going to translate well,” Clemmons said. “I call myself a floor general, but I can score the ball when needed. I can do anything it takes to win and to get on the court.”