Rockets' Burgoyne to play for LCC
Thursday, May 15, 2008 11:33 PM PDT
By Rick McCorkle
The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleLower Columbia College men’s basketball coach Jim Roffler is a good judge of talent, and knows what it takes to be a successful college player.
Case in point: Castle Rock’s Clint Burgoyne, who was forced to play in the frontcourt during his senior season for the fifth-ranked Rockets despite standing only 6-foot-2.
“Clint played out of position in high school, and it was unfair to evaluate him as a wing where he’d play in college,” Roffler said. “Understandably, you have to get your best players on the court, and he was one their bigger guys.”
Roffler saw Burgoyne’s potential, and inked the Rockets star to a letter of intent with the Red Devils for the 2008-09 season.
“It was tough to get a feel as to how he would perform against bigger guys on the wing,” Roffler said. “Fortunately, we had him play in the Gold Ball Tournament, which is a good tool to evaluate players, and he was formidable.”
Burgoyne earned all-tournament honors after scoring 35, 32 and 18 points in successive games to average 28.3 points per game.
“He played well against some very good players, and he did a good job in the lower-scoring championship game,” Roffler said. “Clint really proved his mettle and savvy.”
Burgoyne talked to a few other junior colleges in the Northwest before signing with Lower Columbia because of its closeness to home.
“The basketball program at LCC has a good tradition, and has had a lot of good players come out of here and go to four-year schools,” Burgoyne said during a recent workout at LCC. “I believe I bring hustle, good defensive play and outside shooting to the team. Although I played with my back to the basket as a senior, I was a point guard as a freshman and sophomore.”
Burgoyne averaged 16 points and six rebounds as the SWW 1A Trico Division Most Valuable Player, while leading the Rockets to the district title and an appearance in the Class 1A State Tournament. He also played in the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association All-State game, where he scored a game-high 16 points while leading the Class 1A All-Stars to a 107-98 victory over their Class 2A counterparts.
“Clint did things in the all-state game that you didn’t see in high school, because he was out on the perimeter,” Roffler said. “He shot the ball more and better than I had seen from him in the past. His court savvy sets him apart from other high school players.”
Burgoyne joins returning center Alex King, redshirt sophomore Ryan Freeman and a bevy of newcomers when the Red Devils open play this fall.
“Clint will be a wonderful addition to our team and will step in and play right away,” Roffler said. “He’s a really tough kid who plays strong.”
Burgoyne’s versatility and quick thinking was also displayed in football, where he earned all-SWW 1A League first-team honors at quarterback. His gridiron talents earned him an invitation to play in the Earl Baden Classic, the state prep all-star football game that will be contested June 21 in Yakima.
Although he will study diesel mechanics, Burgoyne hopes to get an opportunity to play basketball at a four-year school after he completes two seasons with the Red Devils.
“I’d like to help the team win a couple more NWAACC titles,” he added.
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