He is known for his standout college career at Loyola University in Chicago, where he was named Midwestern City Conference Player of the Year in 1981.
Clemons, a 6'3" point guard from Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago, won an Illinois state title in 1975 and was named a Parade Magazine All-American as senior in 1978.
He chose Loyola over higher-profile programs in part due to the promise of immediate playing time.
[2] The following season, Clemons' scoring dropped to 12.9 points per game as freshman Alfredrick Hughes became the primary perimeter scoring option and center Wayne Sappleton emerged as a scorer.
[2] At the close of his college career, Clemons had scored 1,610 points and dished out 703 assists – still a school record.