For Immediate Release: December 2, 2010
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU men's basketball signs athletic 6-foot-5 forward Clonch to NLI
Scholar-athlete averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds in junior season

VESTAL, N.Y. -- Binghamton men's basketball signed 6-foot-5 forward Dalton "Storm" Clonch (North Wilkesboro, N.C./North Wilkes HS) to a National Letter of Intent and the athletic wing player will suit up for the Bearcats in 2011-12.

Clonch, a scholar-athlete with a 99 grade-point average, is the reigning Wilkes County Player of the Year after averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds as a junior. He is a three-year starter for North Wilkes High and led the team to a 22-6 record and Mountain Valley Conference championship in 2009-10. Clonch boasts a 37-inch vertical jump ability and his athleticism and intensity made him a desirable addition to the BU program.

"Storm is a well-balanced student-athlete and we are lucky to have him," head coach Mark Macon said. "He is an excellent student and a very tough, skilled and athletic basketball player."

Clonch has more than 750 career points heading into his final scholastic season and collected 24 points and 11 rebounds in North Wilkes' first game last week. In addition to county Player of the Year honors last winter, Clonch was a first team all-conference and first team all-county choice.

He also earned all-star recognition (top-20 out of 500) at The Hoop Group Academic Elite Camp last spring.

Clonch is also a standout high jumper, having cleared 6-feet-7. That mark would've been good for third place at the 2010 America East Championship. Clonch placed seventh at the North Carolina state track championship last spring.