Stevie Clark staying in school benefits Oklahoma [UPDATE]

Mar 7, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lon Kruger reacts after a Sooners score against the Texas A

UPDATE: According to The Oklahoman, Dorshell Clark has confirmed Stevie Clark will attend Douglass High School for his senior season, and NOT leave early for college.

He is the top hoops recruit in the state of Oklahoma. One of the best point guards in the 2013 class. But Stevie Clark has been flirting with graduating early to start playing college ball this fall.

Currently, no one has a definitive answer if Clark is staying in school or not, but the latest from his mother, Dorshell Clark, says he is going to be playing at Douglass High School next season.

Which if that is the case, Lon Kruger and the Oklahoma staff could benefit greatly from Clark finishing his high school career at the end of March next year.

Right now, the Sooners have extended an offer to Stevie Clark, but they are competing with some big time schools.

Connecticut and Marquette of the Big East have offered Clark, as well as the SEC’s Missouri and Vanderbilt.

Also, two other in-state schools, Oklahoma State and Tulsa, would love to have the 5-10 guard out of Oklahoma City. Though, UCLA, Fresno State, and San Francisco have made California an option for Clark’s college destination.

As you can see, Oklahoma will have a tough time getting Clark to sign with the Sooners. However, if he decides to stay in high school for his senior year, then Oklahoma can level the playing field a bit.

Lon Kruger has Oklahoma in the right direction, and a solid 2012-13 season could convince Clark that OU could be the school for him. It is close to home for Stevie, but early playing time may not be in Clark’s favor.

Trust me, the kid is a special talent. He has propelled the Douglass Trojans to three 4A state championships in his time there. However, with a bigger Mt. Vernon product Isaiah Cousins coming in to the program next season, Clark may not want to play second fiddle in the early going of his college career.

He is a good kid. We’ve seen that from the MTV2 series “Nothing But Net,” which featured Clark’s Trojans during the 2011-12 season.

Also, he excelsin the classroom, and put himself through advanced courses. Though, the big reason he wants to head to college a year early is because of his head coach, Terry Long, leaving for a bigger high school in Oklahoma.

And if coaching is really important to Clark, Lon Kruger is the type of guy you would want on the sideline as a player.

Right now it seems like Stevie will wear a Douglass Trojan uniform next winter, but in the prep world, nothing is ever definite.