| Chanel’s McKnight penciled in at YSU |
| Tuesday, September 16 2008 |
| Courtesy of: JOHN VARGO Tribune Chronicle |
| Lamar McKnight's pencil strokes are meticulous. His brush strokes are precise. The artwork is always with a purpose. The 6-foot-5 St. Peter Chanel senior forward can play anywhere from a point guard to post for the Firebirds, displaying his soaring jump shots and fierce rebounding and blocking abilities. After Saturday's official visit to Youngstown State University and playing in an open gym with the men's basketball team, McKnight made a verbal commitment. YSU coach Jerry Slocum, nor any of his assistants, can officially comment on McKnight until he signs his National Letter of Intent. "(YSU) really likes him playing the three or four spot," Chanel coach and Girard High School graduate Bernie Tarr said. McKnight can sign from Nov. 12-19, which is the early signing period set by the NCAA. When asked, McKnight said it's a process he can put into a portrait. "(It's like) someone with YSU on their mind, but still checking out other places at the same time," McKnight said. "At the same time, YSU is still in the back of their mind. Saying in other words, you already know where your home is, but you want to explore other places in case things didn't go right." He chose YSU over Wagner, which is on Staten Island (N.Y.) and Radford (near Virginia Tech). All three had strong art programs and were the only three offering him scholarships. McKnight, who plans to start out as a graphic design major, was recruited by Kent State, Northern Arizona, Robert Morris, Michigan (during his junior year), Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Buffalo and Wright State. All the schools were interested because he averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and shot more than 50 percent from the field last season as Chanel advanced to the Division IV state Final Four. McKnight scored 23 points, had 14 rebounds and four blocks during the Firebirds' loss to Sugarcreek Garaway. McKnight saw his older cousins and other family members draw, which spurn his artistic side at age 3. "I saw that I was good and I kept pushing myself to do it," he said. His arms then became used more on the basketball court. McKnight displayed that during the regional final at the Canton Memorial Fieldhouse against then No. 2-ranked Malvern. He scored a game-high 31 points. "He has the ability to shoot," Tarr said. "He's very athletic at 6-5. He plays way above the rim. He has a lot of versatility. He's able to defend a two-guard to some post." His mother, Beatrice Williams, was instrumental in the recruiting process. She'll be within driving distance of all home games at Beeghly Center, close when the Penguins venture to Cleveland State University and a couple hours away from Wright State University and the University of Detroit. "She really doesn't know a lot about basketball, but she surprised me with all the questions she asked," McKnight said. "While I was learning, she was learning at the same time. I got two perspectives. I got one in my eyes and one in my mother's eyes. Coach Tarr also played an important role, too." From McKnight's perspective, art and basketball are intertwined. It's displayed in his favorite work of art. "It's all in pencil - a picture of a man squatting down," he said. "There was a basketball next to him. He was playing basketball - playing hard. Now he's relaxing, thinking about it. I was like that my freshman year in school." Now, YSU has penciled in its first recruit for the 2009-10 season. |