What Happened to Former Basketball Player Terrence Clarke?

When a basketball player suits up for the University of Kentucky, his future as a professional in the NBA is almost certainly assured. This is because of the program’s history of consistently producing top-quality NBA players such as Devin Booker, Karl Anthony Towns, and Bam Adebayo.

Another Kentucky standout, Terence Clarke, was supposed to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and secure a place in the NBA. However, things didn’t go according to plan for Terence Clarke, and he could never live up to his full basketball potential. So what happened to Terrence Clarke?

Overview of Terrence Clarke’s Basketball Career

Terrence Clarke was among the top-ranked players in his high school draft class, with all significant draft analysts listing him as a 5-star recruit. He was a 6’7″ player who could play both shooting guard and small forward positions well.

He attended Brewster Academy in New Hampshire and averaged 18.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game as a senior, enough to lead the team to a 34-4 record. Clarke was selected for the McDonald’s All-American Game as a testament to the young high school players’ basketball talents.

He committed to the University of Kentucky in 2019 and made an immediate impact on John Calipari’s Wildcats team during his freshman year. He averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and two assists per game in about 28 minutes. While his numbers weren’t exactly at the top of his team, they’re quite the standout performance for a rookie just starting to make his way into coach Calipari’s system.

His performance during his freshman year was enough for scouts, and he was ranked in the top 10 of the 2021 draft. So, at the end of his first collegiate season, he immediately declared for the NBA draft in Brooklyn.

Was Terrence Clarke Drafted in the NBA?

Unfortunately, Terrence Clarke’s NBA draft dreams would not come true. He died in a car accident just one month after declaring for the draft.

For such a promising young talent, it’s truly a tragedy that he didn’t get to live out his dreams. The NBA community was shocked by the sudden loss of Clarke, who had so much potential for greatness and was still so young.

So, when the draft day came, he was famously drafted into the NBA by the commissioner himself, Adam Silver. So, for a brief period, he was listed as one of the few hundred players on the NBA’s roster.

The draft occurred on July 29, 2021– three months after Terrence passed away. His family was present at Barclays Center for his selection, and hundreds of people came out to support them and celebrate Terrence’s life.

What Happened to Terrence Clarke?

Terrence Clarke’s death was a tragedy as he had just signed with Klutch Sports, an agency that helps young athletes get drafted into the NBA. Just one day after signing the papers, he got into a car collision that killed him.

Reports claim that Clarke ran a red light and accidentally hit another car. This resulted in Clarke’s vehicle bouncing off onto a light pole and eventually finding itself barreling into a block wall. Sources say that the first responders were still able to get him to the hospital, but they were unable to save his life. In addition, the other driver sustained minor injuries but did not require any medical attention. In the end, Terrence Clarke’s cause of death was the injuries he sustained from the crash.

His family and friends were devastated by the news of his death, but they all agreed on one thing: he had it would mean a lot to him if he could fulfill his ultimate dream of making it to the league. “It’s all he talked about, just going to the draft, like, ‘Mommy, am I ready for this? This is big.’ And I’m like, ‘Yes, Terrence, you wouldn’t be in this position if you didn’t, if people didn’t think you were this good,” his mother recalled in an interview.

So, commissioner Adam Silver did what he thought was right. He granted Clarke a spot on the roster for this upcoming season in honor of his memory. In the middle of the 15th pick, Silver called a pause to the ceremony and gave the stage to Clarke’s mother, sister, and brother and said, “To the three of you, to all of those who knew and admired Terrence, please know that he will forever be part of the NBA family”, who also added that he was touched by the support his family had shown throughout this ordeal.

The Boston Celtics, Clarke’s hometown team, were also vocal in their support for the Clarke family. The Celtics offered tribute posts for the young guard on Twitter saying that he represented the city of Boston proudly. The Celtics also said that they planned to honor Clarke in some way during the upcoming season.

Players who witnessed Clarke’s play were also devastated and showed it via social media. Jaylen Brown, a star for the Celtics and owner of 7uice, also tweeted his tribute to Clarke. He even had a limited edition Terrence Clarke tribute t-shirt made to honor his legacy. Jaylen Brown’s older brother and 7uice co-founder Quinton also chimed in by saying, “He brought that positive energy to Boston. As he passed, our philanthropy goal is to give back to his mom, his brother and sister. It’s to keep his Juice alive – he was so big for Boston.”

Wrapping Things Up: What happened to Former Basketball Player Terrence Clarke?

Terrence Clarke’s story is a tragic one. He was a promising young basketball player who had a bright future ahead of him. Unfortunately, Clarke’s life was cut short when he died in a car accident. His family has been left to mourn his death.

It’s a story that says life can be taken away in an instant and that we should cherish every moment that we have.

We hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, be sure to check out our other basketball FAQ articles here.

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• What Happened to Derrick Rose?
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• What Happened to Former NBA Baron Davis?
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