Salukis sign Saint Peter's transfer forward Clarence Rupert
05/20/2022 | 8:13:00 | Men's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois men's basketball coach Bryan Mullins announced today that the program has signed Saint Peter's transfer forward Clarence Rupert.
A native of Philadelphia, Pa., the 6-foot-8 true freshman was the starting center for Saint Peter's last season during the Peacocks' historic run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Rupert averaged 4.4 points, 2.5 rebounds in just over 13 minutes per game on the year. He has three years of eligibility with the Salukis.
"Clarence is just scratching the surface of what type of player he can be," Mullins said. "He has a great feel for the game and plays with toughness and competitiveness at all times."
When the stakes were at their highest, Rupert was at his best last season. In four NCAA Tournament games versus Kentucky, Murray State, Purdue and North Carolina, he scored 26 points on 12-of-22 field goals. In the Sweet 16 win over Purdue, he scored the first seven points for Saint Peter's and had 11 total in the first half.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his NCAA Tournament performances came on defense, where he battled toe-to-toe with two All-Americans and a conference Player of the Year.
"I just went out there and played the same defense I'd been playing all year long," Rupert said. "I'm tough, I'm a dawg. I'm not going to let you out-dawg me in front of anybody. That's not how I roll."
Rupert's regular-season highlights included 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting at St. John's and eight points at Providence. For the season, he recorded a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (20-19), uncommon for a big man.
"He impacts the game in a lot of ways that do not show up on the stat sheet," Mullins said. "I love the passion that he plays with. His team's success in postseason motivates him to want to get back to the NCAA Tournament."
Rupert attended Miller School Of Albemarle in Charlottesville, Va. and was a four-time All-State selection and two-time Player of the Year. He helped lead his team to a state championship as a junior.
"I have a chip on my shoulder," he said. "So many people doubted me. Any time I step on the court, it's always going to be there. If I make it to the League, it's still going to be there. I have something to prove. I haven't proved anything yet."
Rupert joins a spring signing class that also includes George Mason-transfer point guard Xavier Johnson, Evansville transfer guard Jawaun Newton and East Central University guard AJ Ferguson. The four spring signees join November-signee 7-foot center Cade Hornecker of Amarillo (Texas) High School to make up Southern's incoming recruiting class.
A native of Philadelphia, Pa., the 6-foot-8 true freshman was the starting center for Saint Peter's last season during the Peacocks' historic run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Rupert averaged 4.4 points, 2.5 rebounds in just over 13 minutes per game on the year. He has three years of eligibility with the Salukis.
"Clarence is just scratching the surface of what type of player he can be," Mullins said. "He has a great feel for the game and plays with toughness and competitiveness at all times."
When the stakes were at their highest, Rupert was at his best last season. In four NCAA Tournament games versus Kentucky, Murray State, Purdue and North Carolina, he scored 26 points on 12-of-22 field goals. In the Sweet 16 win over Purdue, he scored the first seven points for Saint Peter's and had 11 total in the first half.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his NCAA Tournament performances came on defense, where he battled toe-to-toe with two All-Americans and a conference Player of the Year.
"I just went out there and played the same defense I'd been playing all year long," Rupert said. "I'm tough, I'm a dawg. I'm not going to let you out-dawg me in front of anybody. That's not how I roll."
Rupert's regular-season highlights included 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting at St. John's and eight points at Providence. For the season, he recorded a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (20-19), uncommon for a big man.
"He impacts the game in a lot of ways that do not show up on the stat sheet," Mullins said. "I love the passion that he plays with. His team's success in postseason motivates him to want to get back to the NCAA Tournament."
Rupert attended Miller School Of Albemarle in Charlottesville, Va. and was a four-time All-State selection and two-time Player of the Year. He helped lead his team to a state championship as a junior.
"I have a chip on my shoulder," he said. "So many people doubted me. Any time I step on the court, it's always going to be there. If I make it to the League, it's still going to be there. I have something to prove. I haven't proved anything yet."
Rupert joins a spring signing class that also includes George Mason-transfer point guard Xavier Johnson, Evansville transfer guard Jawaun Newton and East Central University guard AJ Ferguson. The four spring signees join November-signee 7-foot center Cade Hornecker of Amarillo (Texas) High School to make up Southern's incoming recruiting class.
12.6.25 | Alayna Kraus Postgame Presser vs. SEMO
Sunday, December 07
12.6.25 | Tkiyah "Tete" Nelson Postgame Presser vs. SEMO
Sunday, December 07
12.6.25 | Coach Bond-White Postgame Presser vs. SEMO
Sunday, December 07
12.5.25 | Saluki Radio Football Podcast - 2025 Season Recap
Saturday, December 06