Mainland Eagles Academy Member, Quinn Clinton US Scholarship Commitment-

Mainland Eagles Academy Member, Quinn Clinton makes his college decision to play for the University of New Mexico Lobos. Quinn will play basketball for the Lobos while working towards his Bachelor’s degree in Geography while on full scholarship. Quinn is the son of Peter Clinton and Tracy Williams and the brother of Mitch Clinton who have supported throughout the US College recruiting process. The decision capitalises on a banner year for Clinton who recently captained the U18 New Zealand to beat Australia in the U18 Oceania Championships for the first time to qualify New Zealand for the U19 World Championships next year. Quinn is a member of the Canterbury Rams (National Basketball League) and will continue to be a member for the 2017 season playing as the backup point guard before heading to the United States in August. Quinn captained his Christchurch Boys High School team playing for coach Glenn Lang who finished as the top team from the South Island and finished in the top 8 at this year’s Secondary School Nationals.

Quinn has been a member of the Mainland Eagles Academy which is supported by the Canterbury Rams organization in assisting young high school boys & girls from throughout the South Island of achieving their US college dream. The Academy is coached by Rams coach, Mark Dickel and Wildcats coach Lori McDaniel who have been working with Quinn doing skill trainings, strength trainings and academic support since the Academy began 2 years ago. Mainland Eagles Academy Development Manager Caleb Harrison had this to say about Clinton, “When starting the Academy 2 years ago, we had players like Quinn Clinton in mind, we wanted to give these youngsters the best opportunity from a basketball, academic & leadership standpoint to receive a US College Scholarship where they could be successful. Although a significant component of the Academy is providing basketball, strength & conditioning and academic support we see it as vital in providing support and guidance throughout the US College selection process and providing support throughout the student athletes 4 years at University in the United States.” It has been extremely rare for New Zealand guards to be successful at NCAA Division 1 Universities with only the likes of Mark Dickel, Kirk Penny and Tai Webster having done so.

Mainland Eagles Academy and Rams Head Coach Mark Dickel has been sharing his experiences playing for University of Nevada Las Vegas with Quinn the past 2 years. Mark played at UNLV from 1996 – 2000 and led the NCAA Division 1 in assists in 2000. University of New Mexico plays in the same conference as UNLV, in the Mountain West Conference. “Quinn deserves the opportunity to play big time college basketball. I think New Mexico is a great fit for Quinn. They have recruited him as a point guard”, said Mark Dickel. The Lobos are known for player development having 8 players who have gone on to play in the NBA including most recently Australian Cameron Bairstow who played for the Chicago Bulls and is currently playing with the Brisbane Bullets in the ANBL.

Quinn began the recruiting process with the Mainland Eagles Academy Las Vegas Tour last year, and was supported by playing with the New Zealand team at the U16 & U18 Qualifying Tournaments. At both

the U16 & U18 Oceania Qualifying Tournaments, New Zealand has faced Australia in the championship game for the right to play in the respective U17 & U19 FIBA World Championships. In both championship games Quinn has been the leading scorer making him a highly touted guard out of the Oceania region for his year group and was named MVP of the U18 Oceania Championship game recently held in Fiji. As recognition of his basketball abilities he was invited to the NBA Basketball without Borders Camp & Nike All Asia Camp this year. He was named the All Star Game MVP at the NBA Basketball without Borders camp. Quinn also got exposure to NCAA Division 1 competition when the University of Washington which featured Mainland Eagles Academy member and former Rams player Sam Timmins visited Christchurch to play against the Mainland Eagles Academy this past August. You can come out and watch Quinn play for the Canterbury Rams (National Basketball League) in their home open on March 23rd at Cowles Stadium before he heads off to play for the University of New Mexico in August. Rams season memberships are available at www.rams.org.nz.

Mainland Eagles Academy Description- 

The Mainland Eagles Academy is operated by the Canterbury Regional Basketball Foundation with the goal of enabling the best High School basketballers from throughout the South Island to achiever their aspiration of receiving a US College scholarship through the nurturing of their basketball, academic & leadership development.

Rams Season Memberships Link- 

https://nz.patronbase.com/_RAMS/Seasons/View?season_id=17PS

Rams Facebook- 

https://www.facebook.com/CanterburyRams/

Mainland Eagles Academy Facebook- 

https://www.facebook.com/mainlandeaglesacademy/