By Marc Raimondi
He was rated one of the best fifth graders in the nation nine years ago. He has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey and Rosie O'Donnell shows. He was one of the most hyped players to come out of Queens at a very young age – before he moved to Florida after his freshman year at Springfield Gardens High School.But, even though he's from the city, Clinkscales never played at Madison Square Garden. Until Saturday.”It's like a different court,” said the DePaul guard after the Demon Deacons beat St. John's 52-48. “It doesn't feel like a regular basketball court. It feels like you're in a bouncy bed. You jump higher. The lights are bright. It feels like you're at a party. It feels good.”He must have felt really good with 2:36 left in the game and the score tied at 40. Clinkscales, who only had four points and two assists, drove the lane, drew the Red Storm defense and kicked it out to Draelon Burns, who drilled a three. The basket ended a 6:21 scoring drought and DePaul would not relinquish the lead again.No pressure for a player that had about 50 friends and family watching him from the stands.”I felt like I was home playing in the park,” said Clinkscakes, who is friends and plays summer ball with the Red Storm's Queens natives, Daryll Hill and Ryan Williams.But the trip to MSG to play the Johnnies wasn't all fun and games.”I made this trip a business trip,” said the 6-foot-1, 175-pounder, who is averaging 3.5 points and a team-high 2.7 assists in 20 minutes per game. “I wasn't really worried about coming home and seeing my family. I know we needed to win. This team is ahead of us in the standings.”York College 69, City College of New York 60. In the quarterfinals of the CUNYAC Tournament, played at the College of Staten Island, No. 3 York College topped sixth-seeded City College of New York. It marks the first time in three years that York has made it out of the first round after 14 straight semifinal appearances for coach Ron St. John.Earlier in the week, York's Shayne Smith was named to the All-CUNYAC first team last week, the league announced. Teammate Jeffrey Boone was named to the second team.Women's BasketballDePaul 70, St. John's 67. The Red Storm (19-6, 9-5) was led by Kia Wright's 16 points and Angela Clark's 14 Sunday in Chicago, Ill.Queens College 71, St. Thomas Aquinas College 64. The Lady Knights used a big first half to beat St. Thomas Aquinas in Flushing Saturday. Jillian Henn led all scorers with 27 points and Erin White added 15 to help Queens stop a three-game slide.York's Deida gets league recognition. York College's Jenny Deida was named to the All-CUNYAC second team league announced last week.
