Scoring is his Key: St. Peter's guard Keydren Clark has a chance to pull off a rare offensive feat

With each ball that banged off the rim, the fans in the bleachers at St. Peter's Yanitelli Center shook their heads in disbelief and waited for the next shot. The next one would go in. It had to. But it seldom did. Keydren Clark's 5-for-22 performance--including 0-for-12 from 3-point range---in a loss against Rider early this month left his faithful stunned. That was not their "Keekee."

Their Keekee is a scorer. A big-time scorer. Clark, who led the nation with 26.7 points per game last season, could become only the eighth player in Division I history to repeat as the country's scoring leader. The last to do so was Charles Jones of Long Island University (1996-97 and 1997-98).

Clark says he doesn't care how many points he has or whether people who come to see him leave disappointed by his individual performance. If the Peacocks win, he's happy. But if his shots aren't swishing--as in a recent slump in which the team lost three straight conference games--that's not likely to happen. Clark, a junior guard generously listed at 5-10, is the key to St. Peter's performance and the team's long-shot attempt to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic title. Any NCAA dreams this little Jesuit school has rest in Clark's hands.

Like so many young boys in New York City, Clark spent his free time on the local playground. At the Hamilton Park courts in Harlem, Clark watched as others worked on their ballhandling with the goal of becoming the next in the long line of New York City point guards. But that wasn't Clark's strength, and he knew it. So he shot--all the time, from everywhere on the court. Rain or shine, he shot. This was his gift, and shooting guard turned out to be his perfect spot.

Before hitting Rice High School in New York, Clark played for Riverside Church--an AAU team--with point guard Jason Wingate, now at Clark's conference rival, Manhattan. Wingate was the playmaker. Clark played off the ball. When they both went to Rice, those roles continued.

"Keekee's future was determined at an early age," says Tom Konchalski, editor of High School Basketball Insider and a longtime talent evaluator in New York City. "He always played off the ball."

Konchalski says he always knew Clark was a pure shooter, a scorer, hut he never thought he would do what he has done at St. Peter's. At Rice, he averaged only 13 points as a senior, getting far fewer shots than he does with St. Peter's. He wasn't widely recruited and ended up in Jersey City, N.J., close enough to home for his mom and a large group of supporters to attend games at Yanitelli.

At St. Peter's, the offense revolves around Clark. He has taken 30.9 percent of the team's shots this season and is second in the nation in scoring at 25.2 points per game. The team depends on his ability to hit from outside and drive to the net. He can make room for himself and has a quick release, keeping taller players from blocking his shots. He plays the point now to ensure that the offense runs through him but still lacks pure point guard moves. Clark is a scorer, no matter where he is on the floor.

With a target on his back, Clark has had to adapt, working on playing better without the ball and getting open. He's watching the pros for new ways.

"It's just being a student of basketball," says Clark. "Reggie Miller moves real well without the basketball. You've got to move around and not get tired. The opponent's got to get tired."

Most opponents simply are tired of watching Clark score.

Repeat performers

Players who have led the nation in scoring in consecutive seasons:

Frank Selvy, Furman 1952-53, '53-54 Darrell Floyd, Furman 1954-55, '55-56 Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati 1957-58, '58-59, '59-60 Pete Maravich, LSU 1967-68, '68-69, '69-70 Freeman Williams, Portland State 1976-77, '77-78 Harry Kelly, Texas Southern 1981-82, '82-83 Charles Jones, Long Island 1996-97, '97-98

RELATED ARTICLE: Ruling the glass.

Keydren Clark isn't the only player looking to repeat. Louisiana Tech sophomore forward Paul Millsap could be the nation's top rebounder for the second straight season. American's Kermit Washington was the last player to do so, leading the country in 1971-72 and 1972-73.

Millsap averaged 12.5 rebounds last season. In the team's first 14 games this season, he averaged 21.7, second best in the nation.

"Paul has a sixth sense of knowing where the ball will come off the rim;' says Bulldogs coach Keith Richard. "That, combined with his long arms and jumping ability, makes him a great rebounder and amazing to watch."--K.Y

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