Clay McKnight Decides He’ll Play at Pacific

Clay McKnight, who played basketball at UC Irvine and Mater Dei High School, said he will attend University of the Pacific next year.

McKnight, currently a student at Long Beach City College, played at UCI as a freshman last season. He averaged 6.5 points and made 48% of his three-point field goals. He was named to the Big West all-freshman team.

McKnight was the third of three Anteater players to transfer after the 1995-96 season; juniors Kevin Simmons and Brian Keefe also left.

McKnight will be eligible to play at Pacific in 1997-98.

“[Pacific] seemed like a good place to experience college,” McKnight said. “When I went up there I got this feeling--I haven’t too many feelings like it--I thought this was the place for me.”

McKnight was a three-year starter at Mater Dei and helped the Monarchs to the state Division I title as a senior.