Terrence Clarke was born and raised in Boston where he attended the Rivers School before he transferred to Brewster Academy, the top prep school basketball program in the country.
Clarke won the National Prep Championship in 2019 and was a McDonald’s All-American in 2020. As a senior, he averaged 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, as he led Brewster to a 34-3 record that year.
ESPN ranked Clarke as a five-star recruit, listing him as the tenth-best player in the 2020 class. He received offers from Boston College, Duke, Memphis, Texas Tech, and UCLA, but he decided on Kentucky. He was ranked No. 2 as part of the 2021 draft class but he reclassified to the 2020 class.
Clarke had a bright future in the NBA. Being from the city, he had close ties to some of the players on the Boston Celtics, including Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Javonte Green, as he was around the team often.
Brown participated in the Slam Dunk Contest during the 2024 All-Star weekend, dedicating a dunk to his friend Clarke by wearing one of his jerseys for a dunk. Brown also held up a jersey during the Celtics championship parade, as it’s fair to say he would’ve been on a Duck Boat for the parade- a custom Clarke Celtics jersey.
The NBA honored Clarke during the 2021 NBA Draft by drafting him posthumously in the first round during the 14th and 15th picks that also had a celebration with it. His mother walked across the draft stage and shook commissioner Adam Silver’s hand on behalf of her son.
Clarke was very much so going to land in the NBA, making his dreams come true and to take care of his family in the process. However, he unfortunately was in a car accident and died just three months before the 2021 NBA Draft.
After his death, Donovan Mitchell shared a FaceTime video between himself and Clarke that showcased their friendship and Mitchell’s mentorship as Clarke was preparing to make it to the league.
Mitchell also attended Brewster Academy like Clarke, although in different years, but he gave back to his school and made himself available to the basketball program. Thats where he met Clarke and formed a relationship with him.
Mitchell’s younger sister also attended Brewster and was friends with Clarke.
After Brewster, Mitchell went to Louisville for two years, coached by Rick Pitino and became the 13th overall selection by the Utah Jazz in the 2017 NBA Draft.
A leg injury limited Clarke to only playing in eight games for Kentucky. He started six games and averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and two assists per game.
Clarke had a contagious energy that people gravitated towards, on and off the court. He made so many connections along his journey to making it to the NBA. His legacy should live on forever in Boston and in the game of basketball.
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