Verk commits to MAAC’s Stetson
ThunderRidge coach Joe Ortiz sat in the gym at Heritage High back in June, one day after his 6-foot-6 forward, Austin Mueller, gave his verbal commitment to Wyoming.
After extolling the virtues and talents of Mueller, Ortiz pointed down to his 6-foot-8 big man Clay Verk.
“He’s going to be next,” Ortiz predicted.
Sure enough, he was right. Verk on Saturday announced his verbal commitment to Stetson University in Florida, a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, making him the eighth member of the 2016 class – and the second Grizzly – to commit to a Division I school.
“It’s crazy,” Verk told Prep Hoops Colorado. “Growing up that’s always been my goal, to play D-I basketball. To realize that I achieved that is a really good feeling.”
Verk had a standout summer on the grassroots circuit with Colorado Chaos, and his recruiting took off in a hurry. Stetson began contacting Verk, and there was an immediate connection, which only took a stronger hold when Verk made his visit to the school located in DeLand, Fla., a half-hour drive from Daytona Beach.
“The campus is beautiful and the coaching staff is a great group of guys that really are like family,” Verk said. “I was only there for a few days and they felt like family. And the players there, I really gained a nice relationship with them all, which was important to me.”
This will mark the second straight year Ortiz will coach a Division-I bound big man after Zach Pirog went to Nebraska-Omaha. For his part, Verk is excited to have the recruiting process over so he can focus on what should be another strong season for the Grizzlies, last season’s Class 5A runners-up.
“It’s really nice,” Verk said of committing before the start of his senior season. “It’s pretty stressful no knowing where you are going to go after the season, so it feels good to get it done and get ready for the season. This year is going to be great. We have a great group of guys and excellent coaches that are really read to make it back to the state championship and get it done.”