Clark commits, 2012 complete
Alan Major added another strong post player to his 2012 class with the addition of 2012 6'8" power forward Darion Clark of Oak Hill Academy.
Clark recently trimmed his list to the 49ers and Rhode Island, but made his pledge for Charlotte following his visit over the weekend.
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"Rhode Island was a school that had been on my list all summer," Clark said. "I liked a lot of stuff about them but the main thing about them is that it's a long way from home. That kind of bothered me a little bit."
Charlotte didn't come into Clark's picture until July. In fact, he didn't even know the 49ers played in the Atlantic 10 until doing some research.
"Once I found out they were in the Atlantic 10, they drew my interest a lot," Clark said. "It's a league that I think I can play in and be really successful in."
Clark took an unofficial visit to the Queen City campus about two weeks ago, saying everything just felt right.
"It was really nice and everyone around the program just treated me great," Clark said.
Prior to his official visit this weekend, Clark pretty much had his mind made up, but there was one person that was yet to see the campus.
""I really wanted my mom to see everything," Clark said. "She didn't get a chance to see it the first time around and she just said she felt really comfortable with everyone."
Clark's primary recruiter, Desmond Oliver, has a special Georgia connection and has already recruited and signed three other current and future players from the Peach State.
"The coaches were really honest with me," Clark said. "And that's something I like in a coach."
Clark's player host was current Niner starter DeMario Mayfield, another Georgia native who's been the host for recent signees Shawn Lester and Willie Clayton.
"I think he played a big part in making me feel comfortable," Clark said. "He told me that the coaches are real supportive and just player's coaches. I pretty much got the same message from everybody else. So it was something I could believe in."
The 230-pound forward has played with some historic teams in his time, running AAU with the Atlanta Celtics and currently playing prep ball with Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. One of Clark's teammates at Oak Hill is N.C. State-bound 2012 prospect Tyler Lewis, who was heavily recruited by the 49ers.
"They're a great family," Clark said. "Mr. (Rick) Lewis has always been incredibly supportive of me and just helped me learn a lot about every school that recruited me. Everything he ever had to say about Charlotte was great. Even Tyler, he was on my unofficial visit and kind of encouraged me. They opened my eyes to a lot of things about Charlotte."
Clark said he'll sign his national letter of intent sometime this week.
"I'm just as excited as they (the fans) are to come and play here," Clark said. "I feel like I made a good choice and am looking forward to us being really good this year and next. I look forward to a great career at Charlotte."
Clark joins Clayton and Lester to round out Charlotte's 2012 class. Major and Co. will have four scholarships for 2013.