A year ago, Rahshon Clark was known as a one-dimensional player, a guy who dunked at will and dominated around the basket. Or as local recruiting guru Tom Konchalski called him, “a 6-foot-5 human trampoline.”
But Clark wasn’t satisfied with his game and he wasn’t satisfied with Beach Channel’s first-round blowout loss to Canarsie in the 2002 PSAL ‘A’ playoffs.
As a result, the silky-smooth forward quietly became the borough’s top player, averaging 24.8 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game to lead the Dolphins to a school-best 22-3 record.
He improved his game and his stock by becoming more of a complete player. Still incredibly dangerous around the basket, Clark increased his range on his jumper and added an almost impossible to defend fade-away jumper to his impressive repertoire.
“I wanted to work on my shot more,” said Clark, who will attend prep school in the fall. “I knew I could score inside, but I wanted to prove I could score from outside, too.”
He certainly proved that in the Queens Borough Championship game when Clark scored 12 of his team’s 14 first-quarter points (including the game’s first points on a three-pointer from the top of the key) en route to a game-high 33 points. He also had 12 rebounds, 5 blocks and 4 steals.
“His shooting touch is remarkable for a 6-foot-5 kid, and athletically, he’s unbelievable,” Beach Channel coach Jim Malone said of Clark. “He catches everything. You don’t see that too often and then he finishes. His game is so strong.”
Led by Clark, Beach Channel garnered the borough’s top seed — No. 4 — in the PSAL playoffs, and, after beating Jamaica in the first round, the Dolphins met their match in Gompers in the second round.
But even then, Clark almost single-handedly carried his team into the quarterfinals, scoring 24 points in the 58-51 loss. He then finished his high school career in style, winning the slam dunk competition at halftime of the PSAL Class A championship game at Madison Square Garden.
“There aren’t too many players as athletic or as quick north to south or off the floor as he is,” Konchalski said. “He’s a terrific offensive rebounder and such a quick jumper. He really expanded his game a great deal.”
