Players

Clifford Scales

Year Inducted: 2002

Category: Players

Schools / Organizations:
(Westchester) St. Joseph High School
The University of Nebraska
CBA

Biography:  Clifford Scales emerged as one of the most improved players in Illinois between his junior and senior years at (Westchester) St. Joseph High School. He went from sixth man on the Chargers’ 1986 IHSA Class AA Elite Eight team to co-MVP with Brian Molis on the 1987 team that finished third in the state. The two teams combined for a 59-4 record.

Scales averaged 18 points and 4 rebounds a game as a senior. He was named to the all-tournament first team after he was second in scoring (90 points in 4 games) behind Chicago King’s Marcus Liberty. He was also named all-East Suburban Catholic Conference and made the Pioneer Press and Suburban Life all-area teams. He was a McDonald’s All-American team nominee and played with the Suburban All-Stars and for the Class AA North in the IBCA All-Star Game in Peoria.

 Scales received a scholarship to the University of Nebraska where his improvement continued. He was a three-year starting point guard and the Cornhuskers’ MVP in 1990 and 1991. He was named to the 1991 all-Big 8 Conference defensive and tournament teams. Scales tied for fourth in career steals with Glynn Watson (177), another St. Joseph product, was 10th in career assists (354) and tied for 25th in scoring. Twice he was team captain and defensive player of the year and he won fan recognition for the 1991 all-Big 8 team as the top vote-getter.

 After graduation, Scales played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association and for three years in Finland.