MEAC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

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MEAC Basketball Virginia Tech Hokies guard Isaiah Wilkins (1) defends the shot attempt by Coppin State Eagles guard Dejuan Clayton Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports /

21. Dejuan Clayton

As crazy as it sounds, Clayton began his collegiate career at Coppin State way back in 2016 and his journey isn’t finished yet. This 6’2 guard from Bowie, Maryland redshirted his sophomore season with the Eagles, missing most of it due to injury, but was a major contributor during five years in the MEAC. He barely saw any time on the court the next two years, spending one apiece with Hartford and California, and still has a season of eligibility left.

We’re just focusing on those Coppin State years and the action was good, with Clayton averaging 12.4 points and 3.1 assists already as a freshman. He averaged at least 12 points a game in all four of those complete seasons, spending most of his career under head coach Juan Dixon. In his redshirt senior year, he averaged 14.9 points and 5.1 assists and had a career-high 32 points in a win over Delaware State.

He received All-MEAC honors in his final three years with the Eagles, including the First Team nod in his senior season. His scoring numbers were solid and he was among the league leaders in assists in nearly every one of those full seasons with the Eagles. It’s been a strange journey for Clayton, but he was a major contributor during his time at Coppin State.