Township grad makes the basketball team at Penn State as a walk-on after spurning several Division III offers.
By Jason Guarente
Published Oct 29, 2005 13:37
He could have been an instant starter and a leading scorer.
The Manheim Township graduate decided he didn’t want those things. He wanted to wear the Blue and White.
After a summer’s worth of sweat and determination, Scovill will get his chance. The 6-3, 195-pound guard has made Penn State’s team as a walk-on.
“I always wanted to play big-time basketball,” Scovill said. “Everything paid off right now. It feels great to work out with the team every day and feel like I’m a part of everything.”
When Scovill announced in May that he was spurning all of his scholarship offers to roll the dice in Happy Valley, the decision led to some puzzled looks.
Those of us who follow Lancaster-Lebanon League hoops closely didn’t see this one coming. We were already picturing Scovill at Franklin & Marshall or Elizabethtown or another small school.
Scovill was thinking big.
His father, Brad, is a former football player at Penn State, and the school always held a special place in Clay’s heart. Scovill decided the only way he’d be happy is if he took this risk.
“I feel like this is my home now,” he said. “I’ve been here for four months, and everything has been great. I love the team, and we’re all real close. Everything fit together for me.”
Scovill left Township as one of the most accomplished players in school history. He averaged 25 points a game as a senior and was the L-L League’s leading scorer the past two years.
More importantly, he was a winner. He steered the Blue Streaks to the Section 1 championship and into the District 3 and state playoffs.
Some of the traits Scovill carried onto the court in Neffsville helped him make the team in State College.
“There’s a certain toughness about Clay,” Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said.
“He has some intangibles. He’s a tough, strong kid who doesn’t back down. Those are things you can’t teach.”
DeChellis first talked to Scovill late in the spring after the high school season ended. The third-year coach saw Scovill play at some AAU tournaments against premium competition.
When DeChellis learned that Scovill was going to try out for the Nittany Lions, the coach kept an open mind.
Scovill eventually became one of three walk-ons to earn a spot on the 15-man roster.
“I told Clay we were going to give him an opportunity, and it’s up to him to make the most of that opportunity,” DeChellis said.
Scovill probably won’t play much this first season.
It’s difficult for a highly recruited freshman to crack the lineup at a major Division I program, let alone a walk-on.
Scovill said he isn’t too concerned about his minutes.
“I’m just trying to do whatever I can to make people better in practice and to make myself better,” he said. “I’ll go from there.”
Scovill was a prolific scorer in high school, but he collected his points in unconventional ways.
He wasn’t a dazzling shooter or an overwhelming athlete. He scored mostly through grit and effort, slashing to the basket and grabbing offensive rebounds.
In college, Scovill will have to develop his perimeter skills. He’ll have to become quicker with his footwork and evolve into a better shooter and ballhandler.
He knows all of this.
“It has definitely been a couple of steps up in every aspect,” Scovill said. “If you lose focus for one second, you’re going to get beat. I’m focused in practice the whole time.”
When Scovill left for Penn State, Township coach Jim Kreider said he thought Scovill could become a significant contributor to the Lions.
Kreider saw Scovill every day in practice and learned to appreciate the former All-League guard’s dedication to the game.
DeChellis doesn’t like to project the future of his players because there are too many factors that can change things. That said, Penn State’s coach knows better than to count Scovill out.
“I don’t have a crystal ball,” DeChellis said. “That’s what I told Clay. I said, ‘It’s up to you. It depends on how hard you work, how much quicker you get.’ He has the work ethic to do it.”
Regardless of how the next four years unfold, Scovill will get the chance to live his basketball dream.
That’s his reward for taking a chance on himself.
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Jason Guarente is a New Era Sports Writer. He can be reached at jguarente@lnpnews.com.
