Former Kentucky basketball participant Terrence Clarke, who performed his lone season for the Wildcats in 2020-21, died Thursday following a automobile crash in Los Angeles. He was 19 years previous.
“I’m completely gutted and sick tonight,” UK coach John Calipari stated in a press release late Thursday. “A teen who all of us love has simply misplaced his life too quickly, one with all of his desires and hopes forward of him. Terrence Clarke was a ravishing child, somebody who owned the room along with his character, smile and pleasure. Individuals gravitated to him, and to listen to we have now misplaced him is simply onerous for all of us to understand proper now. We’re all in shock.
“I’m on my solution to Los Angeles to be along with his mom and his brother to assist wherever I can. This might be a tough interval for all those that know and love Terrence, and I might ask that everybody take a second tonight to say a prayer for Terrence and his household. Could he relaxation in peace.”
Clarke signed with Kentucky as one of many prized jewels of its 2020 recruiting class however missed many of the season with an ankle damage. After being sidelined greater than three months, he returned within the 2021 SEC Event to report 10 minutes in a 74-73 loss to Mississippi State. He appeared in eight whole video games and made six begins.
A possible first-round choose on this yr’s draft, Clarke was in Los Angeles making ready for the 2021 NBA Draft following a one-and-done season with the Wildcats.
Clarke was the one occupant in a automobile that ran a pink mild going “at a really excessive price of pace” within the San Fernando Valley space at roughly 2:10 p.m. native time, Los Angeles Police Division Sergeant John Matassa stated. His automobile collided with one other making ready to show left, hit a avenue mild pole after which a block wall. He was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical and later pronounced useless.
The opposite driver of the automobile concerned within the crash didn’t declare any accidents. Police stated Clarke was not carrying his seat belt correctly.
On Wednesday, Klutch Sports activities Group introduced him as one in all their high-profile shoppers forward of this summer season’s draft.
“We’re saddened and devastated by the tragic lack of Terrence Clarke,” stated Wealthy Paul, President and CEO of Klutch Sports activities Group, which was representing Clarke. “He was an unbelievable, hard-working younger man. He was excited for what was forward of him and able to fulfill his desires. Our prayers exit to Terrence and his household, who ask for privateness throughout this tough time.”
Initially from the better Boston space, Clarke was lengthy thought of proficient basketball prospect. He attended Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, the place he blossomed. Clarke earned scholarship provides from Duke, UCLA, Baylor and Indiana amongst different top-tier applications earlier than committing to Kentucky within the fall of 2019. Clarke was ranked as one of many high prospects within the 2021 class however reclassified to the 2020 class, arriving at Kentucky forward of this previous season as a top-10 recruit.