Terrence Clarke, who just lately joined an elite checklist of University of Kentucky basketball stars who’ve left the blue-blooded program early to pursue desires of taking part in in the N.B.A., was killed in a automotive accident on Thursday in Los Angeles, the college mentioned. He was 19.
The crash occurred shortly after 2 p.m. northwest of downtown when a car touring on Winnetka Avenue broadsided a automotive turning onto Nordhoff Street, Officer William Cooper, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department, mentioned Thursday evening.
He mentioned that the motive force of the automotive that crashed into the turning car, whom he couldn’t establish, had later died from accidents sustained in the accident. Earlier on Thursday evening, the spokesman mentioned the motive force of the automotive that had been broadsided later died. Additional particulars on the accident weren’t instantly out there.
“I am absolutely gutted and sick tonight,” John Calipari, the University of Kentucky head coach, mentioned in a press release on Thursday evening. “A young person who we all love has just lost his life too soon, one with all of his dreams and hopes ahead of him.”
Calipari mentioned he was touring to Los Angeles to be with Clarke’s household and supply help.
“Terrence Clarke was a beautiful kid, someone who owned the room with his personality, smile and joy,” he mentioned. “People gravitated to him, and to hear we have lost him is just hard for all of us to comprehend right now. We are all in shock.”
A capturing guard who final 12 months was one of the highest recruits in the nation, Clarke shined early in his freshman season for the Wildcats beneath Calipari however had been sidelined by accidents throughout Southeastern Conference play.
Last month, the Boston native determined to forgo his remaining eligibility and switch professional after the University of Kentucky missed the N.C.A.A. Tournament, an anomaly for the storied basketball program.
Clarke’s dying got here someday after he and Brandon Boston Jr., his Wildcats teammate, signed with Klutch Sports Group, which is headed by Rich Paul, the influential sports activities agent who represents LeBron James and a quantity of marquee gamers.
“He was an incredible, hard-working young man,” Paul mentioned of Clarke in a press release on Thursday evening. “He was excited for what was ahead of him and ready to fulfill his dreams.”
Tributes to Clarke flooded social media on Thursday evening as phrase of his dying unfold, together with from the Lakers star James, who posted a photo of Clarke on Instagram.
“REST IN PARADISE NEPHEW!!!” James wrote.
Kemba Walker, the Boston Celtics star, was puzzled when he was requested about Clarke’s death throughout a postgame information convention.
“Very tough news,” Walker mentioned. “He’s a very good kid, just always smiling, always energetic. He was about to get his opportunity, too.”
Standing 6 ft 7 inches, Clarke was one of the highest-rated capturing guards in the nation and starred for Brewster Academy, a boarding faculty in New Hampshire. He selected the University of Kentucky over Texas Tech, U.C.L.A., Duke, the University of Memphis and Boston College, based on his biography on the Wildcats website.
He was hampered by a proper leg damage that restricted him to simply eight video games as a freshman, nevertheless.
Clarke is survived by his mother and father and three siblings, based on the University of Kentucky.
“Terrence was a young man who was so full of life and so full of promise,” Mitch Barnhart, the college’s athletic director, mentioned in a press release. “We hurt and grieve with his family, his friends, and his teammates and coaches, and our prayers are with all of them in this unimaginable loss.”
