By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH his collegiate basketball career over and done with after the Texas Longhorns missed the opportunity to get into the NCAA 2017 March Madness Basketball Tournament, senior Shaquille Cleare took the opportunity to come home for a short break.

Cleare, who is preparing to graduate on April 18, said his season was a pretty good one and he was delighted to have been afforded the opportunity to serve as the team captain.

“Although the season didn’t go exactly the way I wanted it to go, but individually I had a pretty solid season,” said Cleare as he took time out to watch the National High School Track and Field Championships.

“We had a young team this year, so it didn’t go exactly the way I wanted it to go. I had a chance to play with Jarrett Allen, who if he decides to go (pro) could be a lottery pick in the NBA. It was a young team, so I was glad to be a part of the future Texas team.”

Cleare, a 6-foot-8-inch, 275-pound forward, ended up averaging 8.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in a season the 24-year-old called his best year in college as he helped the Longhorns, coached by Shaka Smart, to an 11-22 win-loss record that placed them 10th in the Big 12.

“I’ve been in double figures a couple of times and in most of those games, we were able to pull it off. So I think this has definitely been my best year. I was disappointed that we didn’t make the tournament, but in all things I have to give God thanks.”

And even though he will be departing, Cleare said he’s confident that he’s leaving the programme in good hands.

“It was more of a learning experience more than anything. Being the captain, I was more caught up being a big brother with a shoulder for them to lean on,” he pointed out.

“I’ve been in college over five years now, so I was trying to encourage the guys to hold up their heads and not get discouraged. But for me, I think it’s getting me a chance to work on something great.”

Now that he’s done, Cleare said he’s concentrating on his future, staying in touch with his agents to see what the best options are and if they are available to him.

He will be here relaxing through the weekend and he was pleased to see how his alma mater, North Andros High Seminoles, coached by John Ingraham, was performing.

“North Andros brings out the best athletes and so I was glad to come out and see my school shine, even in the cold,” he said. “It was a lot of fun. The coaches in North Andros are doing a great job with the kids. I wish them the best for the rest of the weekend.”

His father, Brian Cleare, said it was a pleasure to have his son home during spring break.

“Today, he had two agents, who have quite a number of players in the NBA, call him. They also have some players overseas, so definitely he’s going to be playing some professional ball, if not in the NBA, somewhere overseas.

“I am extremely proud of his accomplishments, but more importantly that he will graduate,” the senior Cleare said. “He represented himself well, he represented the family well and indeed the Bahamas very well.

“Now he’s indeed poised to represent the Bahamas on the national team. He always wanted to do that but because of insurance and his commitment to the school programme during the summer, he was unable to represent the Bahamas in the past.”

Even though his college season is finished, Cleare said his son is staying active, running the sand to maintain his conditioning as he waits on an offer to play at the next level.

Cleare said he heard about the plans for the national basketball team and he would certainly like to come back home and be a part of the run to qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games.

But, in the meantime, he said his ultimate goal is to try to get into the NBA, but if he doesn’t make it, he will take his pro career overseas.

“It doesn’t matter where I start,” he stressed. “It just matters where I finish.”

Cleare publicly thanked the people of Andros, his family and the entire Bahamas for the love and support that they showed him on his journey. “I love you all. God bless,” he said.