Jordan Bruner will pick between Clemson and Yale

Jordan Bruner has a dilemma not encountered by many high school basketball players.

Bruner has the game to play in the ACC, college basketball’s top conference, and also the brains to get into an Ivy League school. That presents a tough decision for the Spring Valley senior as he gets ready to announce where he will attend college.

The 6-foot-9 small forward narrowed his choices to Clemson and Yale and will announce his decision on Friday.

“He is one of those most fortunate kids who have been really truly blessed with academics and athleticism,” Spring Valley coach Perry Dozier said. “He has his choice. Going to the Ivy League is a wonderful thing because most of us can’t get in.

“But then you have great schools like Clemson, and playing in the ACC is a thing he might want to do. He has a big decision to make, but there is always life after. You got to go where you can make a career both during and after.”

This is the second straight year Dozier will have a player signing to play Division I basketball. Last season, Dozier’s son, P.J., picked South Carolina and was a McDonald’s All-American.

Bruner said he learned a lot by watching P.J.’s recruitment and it helped guide him during his own process.

“P.J. is one of my best friends and it was cool to watch him go through the process because he kind of paved the trail for me,” Bruner said. “I do talk to P.J. a lot and coach Dozier. I get words from a lot of people, but in the end it is my decision and I am the one who has to live with it.”

Bruner, who might major in economics, also considered offers from Temple, Georgia and Tennessee before narrowing it down to Clemson and Yale. He visited both schools in the fall and said they both have a lot to offer – on and off the court.

“As far as fit, they both were two of the longest schools that recruited me and they were both strong academic schools, which is big for me,” Bruner said.

Bruner is a three-star prospect and regarded as one of the top players in the state. He’s ranked No. 2 in South Carolina by 247Sports and third by ESPN. The small forward averaged 12 points a game as a sophomore, but struggled with injuries last season.

Bruner tore his MCL in the preseason, returning in the playoffs, but struggled to walk after playing in those games. In June, he suffered patella tendonitis and didn’t play for two-and-half months.

Bruner said it has been a slow process getting back, but is starting to get his confidence and his jump shot back. Despite being 6-foot-9, Bruner’s strength lies on the perimeter, highlighted by his 3-point shooting.

But Dozier said there is more to Bruner’s game than just shooting.

“He loves to play as a team and that is going to carry him in life. He shoots well and is a team player and loves to pass the ball. He is too unselfish sometimes,” Dozier said. “But we are gonna ride him, jump on his neck and anything we can do with him and get all we can get out of him this year.”

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 6:19 PM.