PJC’s Ramon Clemente named NCJAA All-American

Published or Revised April 10, 2007

Paris Junior College basketball player Ramon Clemente has been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I All-American team. NJCAA announced this week that Clemente, a member of the Dragon Region XIV Conference championship team, was selected a member of the third team. Clemente, a 6-6 sophomore forward, led the Dragons in scoring, averaging 13.9 points per game. Clemente, who was recently named to the All-Region first team, is the first Dragon basketball player to be named to an All-American team in modern history, according to Athletic Director Dr. Jim Moffitt. "We have had All-Tournament team selections, but not one to make the NJCAA All-America team," he said. Ross Hodge, coach of the Dragon conference championship team that posted a 27-5 season record, said he is glad the selection committee recognized Clemente's talent. "Ramon is an outstanding basketball player and an even better person," Hodge said. "He has been an asset to PJC and to our team as a student-athlete." Clemente not only led the Dragons in scoring, but also pulled down 9.4 rebounds per game to rank second in that category in the conference and first on the team. He also hit nearly 55 percent of his field goals to rank in the top 15 in the conference in accuracy. Clemente, who will graduate in May, said he was surprised at his selection to the All-America team. "It doesn't seem quite real yet, but it is an honor," he said. Region XIV had four players, including Clemente, to make the All-America selection list. Marcus Thornton of Kilgore College was the only player from the conference to be named first team All-American. Booker Woodfox of San Jacinto College and Lamont Mack of Angelina College received honorable mention. The All-America selection includes: [b]1st Team[/b]

• Nestor Colmenares, Indian Hills Community College
• Cory Cooperwood, Wallace State Community College
• Julian Allen, Garden City Community College
• Marcus Thornton, Kilgore College
• Donald Boone, Tennessee Community College
• Tyler Kepkay, College of Eastern Utah
• Jamarcus Ellis, Chipola College
• Mantas Griskenas, Three Rivers CC
• Steve Harley, South Plains College
• Omar Leary, Northeastern Junior College

[b]2nd Team[/b]

• Rob Robinson, Globe Institute of Technology
• Fred Brathwaite, Georgia Perimeter College
• Wesley Jones, Pearl River Community College
• Shondre Guest, Aiken Technical College
• Ian Grady, Allegany College of Maryland
• Devron Bostick, Southwestern Illinois College
• Marlo Davis, Lake Region State College
• Reggie Huffman, Western Oklahoma State College
• Kenny Dawkins, Arizona Western College
• Laron Frazier, Highland Community College

[b]3rd Team[/b]

• Henry Salter, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
• Sadell Ayala, Iowa Western Community College
• Dashaun Williams, Monroe College
• Geoff Payne, Snow College
• Willie Hassell, Mineral Area College
• Barry Eberhardt, Coffeyville Community College
• Ramon Clemente, Paris Junior College
• Tony Dennison, Broward Community College
• Robert Jarvis, Seminole Community College
• Daniel Thomas, Temple College