Prospect Profile: Clayton Whitman (2019 Lynden HS/Seattle Select High Academic)
Clayton Whitman certainly attracts attention on the basketball court. The athletic 6-foot-4, 190-pound wing from Lynden makes plays on both ends of the floor, and every game you can just about count on him to throw down a dunk or two. He did just that this weekend as his double-double of 18 points and ten rebounds led the way to Seattle Select High Academic’s 17U Open Division title game win at The Hoop Memorial Day Classic.
“AAU tournaments are long and it becomes about which team can play their game,” Whitman said. “It feels great because we kind of have been struggling in the spring season and to finish this one out right before school ball – it’s good.”
Whitman was undoubtedly one of the top performers the entire weekend. Long and lanky, he has the strength to create off the dribble and finish at the basket at the rim. Playing a lot of post in high school, Whitman has been playing more on the wing on the AAU circuit as he knows that’s where he’ll be playing at the next level.
“I’ve been working a lot on my ball-handling in the open court,” Whitman said. “That way I can try to separate myself there where I can use my height and length to get around the shorter guards and still dribble past the bigger guys.”
The recruiting process has gotten off to a good start for the sterling student with a 3.2 GPA. He notes that Idaho and Seattle University in particular have been in contact and his first scholarship offer is from Seattle Pacific. “That’s awesome and I’m really grateful for that,” Whitman said. “Once July comes around we’ll see what goes on from there.”
Whitman admits that going to a Division I school has always been a goal of his – but it’s not D-I or bust. “I want to go where I’ll fit well – I’m just looking for a good fit where I’ll get some playing time,” Whitman said. “I’m not really looking at sitting on the bench for three years. I want to go somewhere that’s a good fit and feels like home.”
After playing with Lynden in June, Whitman will rejoin Seattle Select High Academic and he’s looking forward to some good things. “I’m just hoping our team will be successful so we can get on the big stages and get good exposure,” he said.