Tim Graham: Clark needs no booth to be Superman

Monday, Nov. 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

THE FIRST IMPRESSION to cross the mind when witnessing Keon Clark is that it wouldn't take much for a defender to raise the gangly UNLV center over his head and quickly snap him over a knee.

The lasting impression, however, is far from fragile.

It might have been an exhibition contest, but Clark dominated Sunday night as the Rebels defeated the surprisingly talented Upstate Summer Developmental Basketball League 99-86 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The 6-foot-11, 220-pound junior transfer from Dixie Junior College left jaws ajar with his 19-point, 16-rebound, five-block performance.

"He was a presence in there," UNLV head coach Bill Bayno said.

Despite an impressive block on the first shot of the game, Clark was pushed around early by USDBL center Corey Reader, a 7-foot, 255-pounder from Brigham Young. A stiff forearm to the lower back was Reader's weapon of choice, but Clark answered with an arsenal that hit from all angles.

It wasn't until the 9:48 mark of the first half that Clark grabbed his first rebound, and it wasn't until 43 seconds later he nailed his first bucket, a turnaround jumper in traffic.

But from then until the final buzzer, Keon was neon.

"I want to be the spark out there," said Clark, who owns a 36-inch vertical leap. "But hopefully, as the season goes on, we'll all spark together like the good old days."

It didn't take much for the Rebels to draw from Clark's fireworks, like when he blocked a strong dunk attempt by former St. Joe's star Wil Johnson. And like when he delivered an eye-rolling, two-handed, put-back slam to give UNLV a 40-39 halftime lead.

"I might look wiry, but I got a lot of strength," said Clark, who has gained 15 pounds since joining the Rebels. He intends to add 10 more.

It wasn't until the second half, however, when Clark flexed his muscles.

He blew an automatic basket when he tried to add too much pizzazz to a tomahawk jam within the first five minutes. "I was trying to break the rim," he said. I was trying to dunk too hard." But he shook it off and responded by splicing a highlight reel.

A reverse jam at 12:34 got much of the T&M faithful on its feet, and when he left for a breather just seconds later, he already had 15 points and 10 boards.

But with just 2:12 left in the game, Clark obliterated all of his previous feats. He blocked a shot and somehow out-raced everyone else, including his own teammates, to the other end of the floor to accept a pass for an easy dunk.

And even more impressive was Clark's extraordinary ability to play aggressively and not pick up a lot of fouls. It wasn't until there was a minute remaining that Clark picked up his third personal.

"Quickness is the biggest attribute to my game," Clark said. "I move fast enough they can't call a foul."

It's apparent Clark is fast. It's apparent Clark is skinny. And after Sunday night, it's apparent Clark is strong.