April 24, 2008

HATTISBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss Head Men's Basketball Coach Larry Eustachy has announced the signing of Jerome Clyburn to a national letter-of-intent for the 2008-09 academic year.

Clyburn, a 6-2 guard out of Orange Park, Fla., will join the Golden Eagles for the 2008-09 school year.

"In 34 years of coaching at the high school and collegiate levels, (Jerome) is by far the best pure point guard I've every coached," said Orange Park coach Daryl Lauderdale. "Southern Miss is getting an outstanding player and outstanding person. This young man is my pride and joy, and I can not think of a better person to coach him than Coach Eustachy."

This past season, Clyburn was named the Florida Times-Union First Coast Player of the Year, leading his team with 18.5 points while scoring double digits in all but two of his teams 30 games. Clyburn also led the Raiders in assists, steals and free throw shooting on his way to being named to the Class 6A All-State First Team by the Florida Sports Writer'7s Association.

A three-year starter, Clyburn led Orange Park to a 70-15 career record, finishing as the schools all-time leader in assists and steals. As a senior he led OPHS to the Class 6A Regional Final, before participating in the Florida North-South All-Star Game, where he led the North squad with 20 points.

Clyburn chose Southern Miss over George Mason, The Citadel, Wright State and West Florida.

Clyburn becomes the fourth member of the 2008-09 signing class, joining Andre Jackson (Dallas, Texas), who signed in the fall, Corey Smith (Pleasant Grove, Ala.) and LaVanne Pennington (San Bernardino, Calif.).