OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford made his intentions crystal clear regarding ESPN 100 point guard Stevie Clark of Oklahoma City Douglass.
Ford wanted him. He was No. 1 on the priority list. That constant pursuit paid off Friday as Clark announced he has signed with the Cowboys.
“From my sophomore year, I sort of dreamed about playing for OSU,” Clark said. “A lot of things happened, and I wasn’t sure. But they were always there. They showed a lot of loyalty. I can’t wait to play for Coach Ford.”
Clark, who is 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, is No. 62 in the ESPN 100 and the No. 1 player overall in Oklahoma. He chose OSU over UCLA and Baylor and more than 30 other offers.
Ford didn’t waste any time when coaches were allowed to make in-home visits with recruits. He didn’t wait until the middle of the first day. No, that was much too late for Ford. He was at the Clark house at midnight and stayed for more than three hours.
That type of dedication is something Clark and his mother, Dorshell, have been looking for. A successful program is one thing, but the biggest priority for the family was making sure Stevie has a good relationship with his future coaches.
Dorshell said she can rest easy knowing Stevie will be with Ford in Stillwater.
Stevie initially thought about committing to OSU last month. However, after a talk with his former high school coach, he decided to test the waters.
The logic was if he truly wanted to be a Cowboy, extra visits weren’t going to change that. Steve visited UCLA and Baylor. The Bears visit went so well that it became clear it was a three-horse race between Baylor, UCLA and OSU.
But the Cowboys never gave Stevie or Dorshell a reason to doubt their commitment. And in the end, that loyalty paid off.
“I really like what we’ve got going on with our class,” Stevie said. “We’ve got a lot of talent and a lot of good players. I’m excited to be a part of this.”
Stevie averaged 25 points and 11 assists per game last season in leading Douglass to its third consecutive Oklahoma Class 4A state championship. He was also named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Oklahoma.
“I’m so proud of my brother,” said Class of 2014 Watch List defensive end Deondre Clark, Stevie’s younger brother. “He has shown me what can happen through hard work and dedication. He has earned this.”
Stevie is the fifth signee for the Cowboys. He is the highest-ranked OSU signee and second ESPN 100 pickup for the Pokes. Decatur (Ala.) La Lumiere shooting guard Detrick Mostella, ranked No. 83 in the ESPN 100, signed with OSU earlier this month.