Clemson Signs Betko

April 11, 2002

Clemson, SC – Julian Betko, a 6-5, 190-pound wing player from Slovakia, has signed a national letter of intent with the Clemson men’s basketball program. Betko comes to Clemson from Sharon High School in Sharon, PA and will enter Clemson as a freshman in August.

Betko averaged 22.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game last year for Jim Hoy’s Sharon High School team. He made 58 percent of his three-point shots and shot 91 percent from the foul line. He had a high scoring game of 31 points, a high rebound game of 14 and a high assist game of six. His top three-point field goal game was six.

“Julian gives us the long distance shooter we have been searching for. Our entire staff has seen him play at one time or another and we were all impressed with his abilities as a shooter, but also from a ball-handling and knowledge of the game standpoint.” Betko is the fourth and final member of the Clemson signee class for 2002-03. In the early signing period the Tigers signed 6-2 guard Shawan Robinson of Raleigh, NC and 6-9 forward Akin Akingbala of Greenwich, CT. Wednesday, Clemson announced the signing of 6-7 forward Lamar Rice of Flint, MI.

“This class gives us balanced from a personnel standpoint in terms of positions on the floor and in the years of experience on our club,” said Shyatt.

Next year Clemson will have five seniors (including walk-ons), two juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen on the roster. “With the return of seven of our top nine players from a year ago we will have the competition in practice and the depth to compete with the upper division teams of the ACC.”