MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It’s fair to say that K.J. McClurg’s college recruitment has been topsy-turvy. After breaking out in his junior year with the University boys’ basketball team, helping seal the 2019 Class AAA state title, McClurg found solace in Patrick Beilein’s Niagara men’s basketball team.
That was until Beilein’s sudden resignation for “personal reasons” in October. It saw McClurg also step away from the program, effectively reopening his recruitment. Since that day, Oct. 27, 2019, McClurg’s scouting exploded. At the end of the process, he had offers from New Hampshire, Navy, West Liberty and Nova Southeastern, and was also getting looks from UMBC, Rider and UNC-Asheville.
Now, five months later, McClurg has made his second and final decision. He’ll be dawning the blue, white and gray, as a New Hampshire Wildcat. What brought him to choose UNH? Simply put, the love he was shown.
“The coaching staff showed a lot of love,” McClurg said. “They said my game fits perfectly. My parents and everyone I talked to during recruitment said, ‘Go somewhere that they love you.’ They said they see me being a successful player.”
McClurg’s game is a stifling defense from a big-bodied guard that resembles more of a forward at the high school level. Nonetheless, McClurg has transitioned into a three-way player since setting foot on UHS’s pine four years ago as a freshman, which led him to average 20.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game his senior year, all second on the team.
Currently, New Hampshire has two standout junior guards in Sean Sutherlin (12.8 PPG, 9.3 RPG) and Josh Hopkins (9.6 PPG, 3 RPG) and two mid-grade sophomore guards, Marque Maultsby (8.6 PPG, 4 RPG) and Blondeau Tchoukuiengo (6.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG), but as a team which likes to run a three-guard set, McClurg has potential to see minutes as a freshman.
“I think I can give some valuable minutes,” McClurg said. “Coach [Bill Herrion] said they needed a guard, and if I come in and perform the way he thinks I can and I keep working the way I am, he sees me playing as a freshman. That was a big thing for me. They’re giving me the opportunity to go in and give valuable minutes, and they’re playing these teams that are bigger names but I think I can hold my own. I’ve played all these top AAU teams and top players on those teams, so I think I can hold my own.”
His early productivity could be the spark the Wildcats need heading into the 2020-21 season, considering they went 15-15 this past year. Though its first loss of the season, UNH put up a fight against St. Johns in its third game, losing 74-61 after sticking with the Big East beast through most of the game. They also had quality nonconference losses to James Madison, Florida International, and UConn, as well as two losses to conference foe UMBC in the second meeting of the regular season and the first round of the America East Tournament, respectively.
Over the last few weeks, McClurg has been taking part in Zoom meetings not just with the coaching staff, but with players as well. Some of the guys looked at his film and are excited to see him in the gym, noting that he’s going to fit in with the team. But even with the reassurance that he’s going to the right place, New Hampshire is a big move from West Virginia. Still, according to McClurg, his faith is what will get him through any lows.
“I think it’s going to be difficult moving away from my family and friends, but like my mom said, ‘It’s only a few years, time will fly. You’ve got to do what’s best for you at this moment.’ It’s going to be hard at first, I’ll get homesick but I think it will work out in the way God wants it to.”
Though it’s his day to celebrate, it wouldn’t truly be a McClurg moment without him praising the team around him. It’s been a staple of his the last few years at UHS, and he was quick to note that he wouldn’t have gotten to this point in his basketball career alone.
“I want to thank my family, friends, teammates and coaches for giving me the opportunity to play at University,” he said.
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