PULLMAN, Wash. – The 2015 Southern California Most Valuable Player, Conor Clifford (7-0, 270, Center, Huntington Beach, Calif./Ocean View HS/Saddleback College), has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for Washington State University beginning in the fall of 2015, head coach Ernie Kent announced Monday.

“Conor is the perfect fit for what we were looking for in order to continue our quest for a conference championship,” Kent said. “Getting a player of this caliber is a big deal for us because it shows that Washington State is on the move. It shows that our system is valued in high regards and it also shows that the success that we have started to have here will continue.”

Clifford averaged 14.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game as a sophomore at Saddleback College in 2014-15. He compiled six double-doubles and was named both the Southern California (SoCal) MVP and Orange Empire Conference MVP in 2015. He led the Gauchos to the State title and a 33-2 record. He played his high school career at Ocean View HS where he averaged 15.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocked shots as a senior while shooting 67 percent from the field. He was named All-CIF 2AA and to the All-Orange County Team by the Orange County Register as his team went 24-2 overall his senior year and won the Golden West League Title with an 11-1 mark.

“Conor’s strengths are his ability to be extremely productive in the low post and his mid-range game. I think people will be pleasantly surprised with how strong his skill set is. On top of his talent on the court, he’s one of the brightest young men I’ve ever been around. It is an honor to have Conor in our program, our job now is to make sure he reaches his maximum potential, because he has a tremendous upside.”

Clifford joins an incoming class that includes Charles Callison (6-0, 180, Guard, Moreno Valley, Calif./Canyon Springs HS/San Bernardino Valley College), Viont’e Daniels (6-3, 170, Guard, Federal Way, Wash./Federal Way HS), Robert Franks (6-7, 175, Forward, Vancouver, Wash./Evergreen HS), Derrien King (6-7, 175, Forward, Wichita, Kan./Cathedral HS-Calif./Santa Monica CC), Jeff Pollard (6-9, 220, Forward, Bountiful, Utah/Bountiful HS), and Renard Suggs (6-3, 200, Guard, St. Paul, Minn./Woodbury HS/Gillette College-Wyo.) who each signed NLIs with WSU in the fall and spring. Pollard will attend Impact Academy in Las Vegas next season, before joining Washington State beginning with the 2016-17 season.