South Pike center Doreon Hill kicked off his graduation week by cementing his future plans after high school.
The Eagles’ 6-foot-7 center signed his commitment to Clarendon College in Clarendon, Texas on Tuesday afternoon, where he will continue his academic and basketball careers beginning this fall.
“It’s a good college. I really liked the coaching staff and its closer to home,” Hill said. “It wasn’t a tough decision to make.”
Hill said Clarendon coach Brad Vanden Boogaard and his staff have not discussed a specific role with the big man, but it will surely involve Hill using his large frame in the low post for defense and rebounding purposes.
In 29 games as a senior at South Pike, Hill averaged seven points and five rebounds per contest. His numbers are modest, but on a team that valued the fastbreak and the 3-point shot as much as coach Joe Taylor’s Eagles last season, Hill’s impact was masked by his low numbers.
He scored in double figures seven times throughout the season, but only once after Jan. 4. He registered a pair of double-doubles against Natchez and Amite County, respectively, both in November. He scored a career-high 27 points in beating Tylertown on Dec. 27.
In 60 career games over the last three seasons, Hill averaged five points and a little more than three rebounds per game.
“Doreon played really well for us, and he developed a lot while he was here,” Taylor said.
Hill was listed at 265 pounds entering his senior season, making him an asset in the screen-and-roll game and on the glass. He carried his large body well when running the floor, but failed to develop a strong back-down game in the post to use his strength and power to generate offense.
Hill thanked his coaches and his teammates for helping him achieve an offer to play college basketball.
“I am very excited and I want to thank coach Taylor and everyone else for helping me get here,” Hill said. “Coach Taylor, with the work and the effort he put into the season, he helped me get a lot out of it and helped me get better every day.”
Hill is the only South Pike basketball player to sign with a college program as of Wednesday morning.
