By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
SAND ROCK – Sand Rock senior point guard Jacob StClair helped bring the Wildcat boys basketball program back to prominence. Now he’s hoping to do the same at Division I Arkansas State under first-year head coach and former Alabama assistant Bryan Hodgson.
StClair signed as a preferred walk-on with the Red Wolves on Tuesday morning. This year’s Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 2A Player of the Year averaged 27 points, 6.3 assists, 5.4 rebounds and a steal per game in leading the Wildcats (22-11) to their first Final Four berth since 2011.
“I always knew I was good enough (to play college basketball), but I didn’t know if I’d get the opportunity,” StClair said. “I can’t wait. I think it will be a good opportunity.”
StClair and his father Daniel took a visit to Jonesboro last Thursday. The younger StClair said he came away with a good impression.
“All of their guys – the players, the managers, the coaches – they’re all really good guys,” he said. “I think they’re going to play fast and shoot a lot of threes. That makes me excited. I think I fit in good with them.”
A member of the Sunbelt Conference, the Red Wolves are coming off a 13-20 season, prompting the program to make a change by hiring Hodgson. At Alabama last season, Hodgson helped guide the Crimson Tide to a 31-6 record and a Sweet 16 appearance.
Sand Rock coach John Blackwell feels StClair will fit in well with the Red Wolves’ program.
“I know they’re rebuilding back to what’s going to be a tremendous program and get it back to where it was, get it back to its legacy. Jacob is going to be a part of that,” Blackwell said.
“I’ve told coaches that have been recruiting him from Georgia, all over Alabama, all the way out to Iowa that if you tell him something to do, it will get done. (Hodgson) gave him a couple of things he wanted him to be working on before he came back in the summer and I told him those things will be done. If you tell him to improve something, it will be improved. That’s the biggest thing about Jacob. He’s got such a tremendous work ethic along with a desire to be good at basketball.”
StClair said he’s thankful to have the opportunity to play at the next level. He thanked former Sand Rock head coach and Albertville assistant Eddy Norris for helping him earn his scholarship.
Norris’ son Riley played his college ball at Alabama (2014-19).
“He’s played a big part in it. He’s got connections, and my dad is always talking to people. I want to thank both of them and God for giving me the opportunity,” StClair said. “Hard work does pay off. You’ve just got to keep working and trust God. He’ll open the door where it’s needed.”