Jack McClinton's Legacy

Miami has had better players than Jack McClinton. The Hurricanes have had better teams than those of the last few seasons as well. But seldom has Miami Basketball ever had a player who meant as much to the program as Jack McClinton, a transfer from Siena who changed the culture of Miami Basketball.

In the late 1990s, Miami Basketball mattered. Leonard Hamilton established the program in the upper echelon of Big East. In a five year period, Miami won the Big East, made the Sweet 16 of the NCAAs, was a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, finished a season in the top 10 of the RPI and AP rankings, made four NCAAs, and produced far more quality players than the program had ever had in one era.

But Miami slipped back into Basketball oblivion after the graduations of John Salmons, Elton Tyler and James Jones. Sure, Darius Rice and Guillermo Diaz made the occasional Sportscenter highlight reel and an occasional quality player like Rob Hite came through the program.

But Miami really didn't matter. Even with the occasional upset, nobody had to pay attention to the Canes.

That all changed with Jack McClinton's transfer to Miami. Jack wasn't just a long range bomber in the style of so many ACC off guards. He was the embodiment of a student athlete. The only player the last two seasons to make the All ACC Academic and All ACC First Team, McClinton is a workaholic.

Hitting the gym in his spare time, excelling in the classroom, and leading by example, Jack McClinton changed a culture of losing at Miami and turned the Hurricanes into a team that matters in today's ACC. Jack leaves the program as the conference's all time three point percentage leader, and the second best free throw shooter by percentage in the league's history.

McClinton's impact was felt troughout the conference. Miami entered the ACC as a bit of a laughing stock. Who on Tobacco Road or in the Mid Atlantic would want to see Miami play? But once McClinton arrived on the scene, crowds around the league flocked to see Miami so they could watch the greatest three point shooter in ACC history.

McClinton's 38 point outburst in last years NCAA Tournament against St Mary's broke Johnny Hemsley's "unbreakable" school record for most points in an NCAA Tourney game. Sadly for Jack he didn't have the supporting cast Hemsley did and never got the chance to hit as many big game winning shots as #31 did, because of circumstances but he'll probably be remembered more fondly by Miami fans. (Besides he didn't get suspendedseveral times like Hemsley also.)

Jack made Miami matter again in Basketball. Whether the program can sustain that is to be determined. But McClinton's impact has been clear: he leaves the program as a Hurricane legend.