Prospect Profile: Steven Clay
Having an extremely productive freshman season at Menomonee Falls, Steven Clay has already been labeled as one of the top players in his class. Clay’s 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last year was a good start, and he is ready to make the leap from impressive freshman to incredible sophomore.
Clay’s first season in high school didn’t yield the number of wins that he desired, but Menomonee Falls has a young core that can dominate for years to come. “I feel [my freshman season] it went pretty good. Could have done better, but it was a solid first year,” stated Clay. Fellow freshman, Seth Trimble, also has a great debut season. Trimble scored ten points per game and played well at point guard for the Indians. Clay says that his goals for his sophomore season are to “help lead my team to a better record and also average a double-double.” With two top freshmen, plenty of great team accomplishments are on the horizon.
Trimble and Clay have both been playing with Phenom U’s 15U team, which is a proven goldmine for young talent. Phenom U’s 15U squad has five players who are ranked in the top ten for the class of 2022. Clay said, “Playing with Phenom has been great. Coaching, teammates, all of it. Also working out with the 17s helps because it makes you want to work harder.” Just like Menomonee Falls, this Phenom University team has a chance to be special if they are able to hold onto their top players.
Clay is a spectacular talent, but his game is not perfect. The 6’5” wing says that he needs to improve his ball handling and his set shot. On the other hand, he said that his strengths are getting to the rim and rebounding.
Plenty of schools are already recognizing Clay as a top tier player. Getting some interest from Iowa, UW Lacrosse, and UW Whitewater, Clay is no-doubt poised for stardom in college. It may be early, but if he stays on the same trajectory, he will be playing college basketball at a D1 school.
Steven Clay has already clearly separated himself from his competition. While it may look like he is able to dominate based purely on his physical gifts, Clay does not think so. He said, “[what sets me apart is] My work ethic and my mindset. Some people do it for a way out, but I do it for much more.”
Last year, Steven Clay introduced himself. Next year, he will return as one of the best players in the state. After that, the possibilities are endless.