Cletrell Pope stats stand out for his scoring efficiency, elite rebounding and defensive impact during his college basketball career at Bethune-Cookman University. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 14.1 points and 12.0 rebounds per game across 60 NCAA Division I appearances, earning two First Team All-MEAC selections and two MEAC Defensive Player of the Year awards.
His biggest strength was controlling the boards. Pope recorded 21 double-doubles during the 2018–19 regular season and followed that performance with another productive campaign as a senior in 2019–20.
Instant Topic Verdict
- Height: 6 feet 9 inches, with a listed playing weight of 212 pounds.
- College team: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, where he played during the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons.
- Career averages at Bethune-Cookman: 14.1 points and 12.0 rebounds per game across 60 games.
- Major achievements: Two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-MEAC selection.
Who Is Cletrell Pope?
Cletrell Pope is an American basketball player who played as a forward for the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. The university listed him at 6 feet 9 inches and 212 pounds, with Northport, Alabama, as his hometown and Tuscaloosa County High School as his high school.
His size and rebounding ability made him an important presence in the frontcourt. Rather than relying primarily on outside shooting, Pope produced much of his value through efficient field-goal shooting, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and activity around the basket.
Pope entered the Bethune-Cookman program after playing junior college basketball. The university’s player biography records his 2016–17 season at Southeastern Illinois, where he averaged 13.7 points and 14 rebounds per game and was named to the First Team All-Region XIV.
Cletrell Pope Stats: College Career Overview
Pope’s most notable statistical feature was his consistency on the boards. Across his two NCAA Division I seasons at Bethune-Cookman, he averaged approximately one rebound for every point he scored, an unusually productive combination for a forward.
Season-by-Season Statistics
The following figures cover Pope’s NCAA Division I seasons at Bethune-Cookman.
| Statistic | 2018–19 | 2019–20 |
|---|---|---|
| Games played | 31 | 29 |
| Points per game | 14.1 | 14.2 |
| Rebounds per game | 12.2 | 11.9 |
| Assists per game | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| Steals per game | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| Blocks per game | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| Field-goal percentage | 60.8% | 52.7% |
| Major recognition | First Team All-MEAC; Defensive Player of the Year | First Team All-MEAC; Defensive Player of the Year |
Sources: Sports-Reference college statistics, Bethune-Cookman Athletics and MEAC records. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com+3
The numbers show that Pope maintained a similar scoring level between seasons while remaining one of the conference’s most productive rebounders. His field-goal percentage declined from 60.8% to 52.7%, but he still converted more than half of his attempts in his senior season.
Career Totals and Averages
| Career statistic | NCAA Division I total or average |
|---|---|
| Games played | 60 |
| Points per game | 14.1 |
| Rebounds per game | 12.0 |
| Assists per game | 0.8 |
| Steals per game | 1.0 |
| Blocks per game | 1.2 |
| Field-goal percentage | 56.7% |
| Free-throw percentage | 58.1% |
These are the reported NCAA Division I career figures for his Bethune-Cookman seasons; they do not represent a complete statistical total for every level of college basketball he played.
Why Cletrell Pope Was an Elite Rebounder
Pope’s rebounding numbers are central to understanding his college career. In 2018–19, he averaged 12.2 rebounds per game across the full season, according to the published college statistics.
That production gave Bethune-Cookman additional possessions and helped the team compete on the glass. His impact was not limited to collecting missed shots after opponents attacked the basket; he also created second-chance opportunities by retrieving his own team’s misses.
Offensive Rebounding
Offensive rebounds occur when a player recovers a missed shot by their own team. These possessions can turn an unsuccessful field-goal attempt into another chance to score.
During the 2018–19 regular season, Bethune-Cookman’s official biography reported that Pope led the nation in offensive rebounds per game. He also recorded 21 double-doubles in the regular season, breaking the previous MEAC mark of 20 held by Kyle O’Quinn.
A double-double means recording at least 10 in two statistical categories, most commonly points and rebounds. Pope’s repeated double-doubles reflected how consistently he contributed in both areas.
Defensive Rebounding and Rim Protection
Pope also excelled at defensive rebounding. The MEAC’s 2019–20 overall statistics list him with 211 defensive rebounds and 134 offensive rebounds across 29 games, giving him 345 total rebounds and an average of 11.9 per game.
His 37 blocked shots and 37 steals that season further demonstrate his defensive activity. Those totals translate to approximately 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.
These statistics do not capture every aspect of defensive performance, such as positioning or communication, but they support the view that Pope was more than a rebound collector. He contributed through several defensive actions.
Cletrell Pope’s College Career at Bethune-Cookman
The Breakthrough 2018–19 Season
Pope’s first season listed as a Bethune-Cookman Wildcat was his major breakthrough. In 31 games during 2018–19, he averaged 14.1 points and 12.2 rebounds per game while shooting 60.8% from the field.
He received First Team All-MEAC recognition and was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. The official MEAC announcement highlighted his rebounding production and noted that he was the only player in the conference averaging a double-double at the time of the award announcement. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
His regular-season production also placed him among the nation’s leading rebounders. That combination of efficiency and possession control established the foundation for his senior season.
Maintaining His Production in 2019–20
Pope continued to produce at a high level as a senior. Bethune-Cookman’s official statistics show that he played 29 games, started 26, scored 411 points and collected 345 rebounds during the 2019–20 season.
He averaged 14.2 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, while recording 37 steals and 37 blocked shots. His 148 made field goals on 281 attempts gave him a 52.7% field-goal percentage.
Those numbers helped earn Pope his second First Team All-MEAC selection and his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award. The MEAC’s record book lists him as the winner in both 2018–19 and 2019–20.
Cletrell Pope’s Basketball Style and Strengths
Scoring Efficiency Around the Basket
Pope’s field-goal percentages indicate that he was an efficient scorer, particularly in his 2018–19 campaign. His 60.8% shooting that year and 52.7% mark in 2019–20 suggest a player who could convert a substantial share of his attempts.
A field-goal percentage measures the share of two-point and three-point attempts that become successful shots. For a forward whose statistical profile was built around rebounding and interior production, this is an important measure of offensive efficiency.
A Defense-First Reputation
Pope’s two Defensive Player of the Year awards are among the clearest indicators of his value. His rebounding, blocks and steals gave him several ways to influence possessions without needing to be the team’s leading scorer.
An award does not tell the entire story of a player’s defense, and the available statistics cannot measure every screen, rotation or contested shot. Still, Pope’s sustained rebounding production and defensive activity provide measurable context for his recognition.
Areas the Statistics Put in Perspective
Pope averaged fewer than one assist per game in 2018–19 and one assist per game in 2019–20. That suggests his documented college role was more focused on finishing possessions and controlling the boards than on serving as a primary playmaker.
His free-throw percentage was 50.6% in 2018–19 and 65.7% in 2019–20. Although that represents an improvement, it also shows why field-goal efficiency and free-throw efficiency should be evaluated separately.
Cletrell Pope Awards and Achievements
Pope’s most important verified college achievements include:
- Two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year: 2018–19 and 2019–20.
- Two-time First Team All-MEAC: 2019 and 2020.
- 2019 NABC District 15 recognition: The Bethune-Cookman biography confirms his NABC District 15 honors.
- Leading national offensive rebounder in 2018–19: Reported in Bethune-Cookman’s official player biography.
- 21 regular-season double-doubles in 2018–19: A mark that surpassed the previous MEAC record of 20 cited by the university.
These achievements illustrate why Pope remains notable in Bethune-Cookman’s basketball history. His combination of rebounding, efficient scoring and repeated defensive recognition made him one of the program’s standout players during those seasons.
FAQs
Q1. How tall is Cletrell Pope?
Cletrell Pope was listed at 6 feet 9 inches (approximately 206 cm) and 212 pounds on Bethune-Cookman’s official basketball roster.
Q2. What were Cletrell Pope’s college career stats?
Across 60 NCAA Division I games at Bethune-Cookman, he averaged 14.1 points, 12.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game, while shooting 56.7% from the field.
Q3. How many awards did Cletrell Pope win?
Pope was a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time First Team All-MEAC selection, earning those honors in 2019 and 2020.
Conclusion
Cletrell Pope’s college statistics tell a clear story: he was a productive forward whose greatest strengths were rebounding, efficient scoring and defensive activity. His averages of 14.1 points and 12.0 rebounds across 60 NCAA Division I games, along with two MEAC Defensive Player of the Year awards, define his documented Bethune-Cookman career.
For readers researching Cletrell Pope stats, the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons are the key reference points. They show how he combined consistent double-digit scoring with elite rebounding to build a strong college résumé.
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