NBA makes the late Terrence Clarke an honorary NBA Draft selection (Video)
Commissioner Adam Silver honored Terrence Clarke, the Kentucky basketball prospect who died in a car accident, as an honorary NBA Draft selection.
The NBA Draft included a touching moment honoring the late Terrence Clarke and his family.
During Thursday night’s festivities, commissioner Adam Silver took a moment to acknowledge Clarke, who died in a car accident in April. The Kentucky basketball star had declared for the draft and was expected to be selected.
The NBA invited Clarke’s mother and siblings to New York for the draft to fulfill his dream.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1420921675323936768?s=20
The NBA honored Terrence Clarke at the NBA Draft
“With the next pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the NBA selects Terrence Clarke from the University of Kentucky,” Silver said.
Earlier in the day, Kentucky head coach John Calipari tweeted a message of remembrance for Clarke:
“I want to take a moment this morning to remind everyone that this would have been Terrence Clarke’s big night as well. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him, his mom, Osmine, and their family,” Calipari said. “I can only imagine how wide that smile of Terrence’s would have been hearing his name called. I’ve got a feeling he’ll be watching down on his teammates tonight and telling them to relax, enjoy the moment and have fun. That was the kind of person he was.”
Kentucky’s official Twitter account marked the pick as well.
Fly high 5, you're an @NBADraft pick.
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 30, 2021
We love you, Terrence. #LLTC5 💙💙💙 pic.twitter.com/SxpHdCeTiR
https://twitter.com/KentuckyMBB/status/1420749581634048000?s=20
Clarke was the No. 8 prospect in the class of 2021, according to the 247Sports composite. He grew up in Boston but chose to play for John Calipari at Kentucky.
Unfortunately, his time with the Wildcats was riddled with injury. He appeared in just eight games, averaging 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
Bigger and better things were expected of Clarke in the NBA. Sadly, he never got a chance to prove himself as a first-round draft pick or an NBA star. He died in late April at the age of 19 while in Los Angeles preparing for the draft.
Clarke’s teammate, Isaiah Jackson, was selected 22nd overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.
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