5 Terrence Clarke

PERSONAL

Born Sept. 6 in Boston … Parents are Osmine Clarke and Adrian Briggs … Has three siblings, Tatyana, Gavin and Madison … Pursuing a degree in communication … His most memorable moment as a basketball player is winning his first national championship … His favorite movies are the Fast and Furious series … Lists macaroni and cheese as his favorite food … Chose No. 5 because he once forgot his No. 6 jersey before a game and had to wear No. 5; after he played well in No. 5 he’s worn that number ever since … His mother has influenced him the most in his life … Played carribean pan as a kid … Likes to down sour gummy worms and apple juice before games … Lists Tyler Herro, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hamidou Diallo as some of his favorite former UK players … Chose Kentucky over Texas Tech, UCLA, Duke, Memphis and Boston College.

HIGH SCHOOL

A consensus five-star prospect … Ranked as high as No. 8 in the final Rivals rankings and one of the top shooting guards in the country … Tabbed to the Sports Illustrated All-American Third Team … Naismith All-American Honorable Mention … New England Prepartory School Athletic Council AAA Player of the Year … NEPSAC AAA First Team selection … Chosen for the McDonalds All American Game, the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic and the Jordan Brand Classic … Member of the Brewster Academy team that won the 2019 National Prep Championships and led his team back to the 2020 finals with a 34-3 record before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the rest of the event  … Averaged 16.2 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in the 2019 Nike Elite Youth Basketball League.

2020-21

Freshman: Declared for the 2021 NBA Draft following the season and will forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility … Freshman season was plagued by a right leg injury that kept him out of the entire Southeastern Conference schedule … Returned to make an appearance in the SEC Tournament … Prior to the injury, was one of UK’s most explosive players and leading scorers … Played in eight games with six starts … Scored 77 points, hauled in 21 rebounds, dished out 16 assists and logged five steals … Averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game … Had four games with three or more assists … Totaled four double-figure scoring efforts … Led the team in assists twice and in steals in two games … Shared some duties at point guard prior to his injury … Played nine minutes, scoring two points and dishing out three assists against Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament … Had six points and three rebounds against No. 22/21 North Carolina … Logged 14 points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal vs. Notre Dame … Poured in a career-high 22 points with a trio of 3-pointers and added three assists against Georgia Tech … Posted 15 points and a career-best six rebounds vs. Richmond … Totaled 14 points, four assists, four boards and three steals in his collegiate debut vs. Morehead State.

Following a workout with teammate Brandon Boston Jr., Clarke died on April 22, 2021, in Los Angeles, California, after being involved in a traffic collision.  The Los Angeles Police Department stated that Clarke was driving at a high speed when he ran a red light, hitting a car that was turning left and then hit a pole and block wall.  He was driving a 2021 Genesis GV80 without wearing his seat belt properly.  He was 19 years old.  Clarke’s agent Rich Paul said Clarke was motivated, was in the best shape of his life, had grown to 6’8″, and was putting in work to be a lottery pick in the 2021 NBA draft.

On July 29, 2021, between the 14th and 15th picks of the 2021 NBA draft, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made Clarke a ceremonial pick, fulfilling his dream of being drafted to the NBA. Clarke’s mother Osmine, brother Gavin, and sister Tatyana accepted on his behalf.  For the Rising Stars Challenge during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend, his mother received an honorary jersey of Clarke’s for the game.

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