former NIU wing with size, defensive versatility, and a high-school résumé built on production
Frank Clair entered Northern Illinois as a 6-foot-6 wing from Chicago Leo, bringing a versatile profile: in high school he averaged 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 blocks as a junior, showing he could score, pass, and disrupt games on both ends. NIU’s records show he appeared in 13 games as a freshman in the 2004-05 season, averaging 0.8 points and 0.8 rebounds in 5.2 minutes, but his college path was limited by academic ineligibility and he ultimately left the program. Bottom line: the upside was length, multi-category impact, and toughness; the concern was availability, not tools.
