Blue Devil Country

Terrence Clarke Chose Kentucky Because "Carlton Banks Is a Duke Kid"

Five-star recruit's mom takes shot at Blue Devils for not being cool.

Shawn Krest

Terrence Clarke Chose Kentucky Because "Carlton Banks Is a Duke Kid"
Terrence Clarke Chose Kentucky Because "Carlton Banks Is a Duke Kid" /

Terrence Clarke is a five-star shooting guard in the class of 2020 who committed to Kentucky in September. He’s rated the top two-guard in the nation and the number four prospect in the class, according to 247Sports.com.

And his mother may have just made him public enemy number one in Durham.

In a video produced by Slam Magazine, Clarke’s mother, Osmine Clarke, said, “I really wanted him to go to Duke, but then we thought about it and I was like, ‘Oh, no.’ He’s not a Duke kid. He is more a Kentucky kid. Carlton Banks is more like a Duke.”

Carlton Banks was the preppy character in the 1990s sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel Air, who was frequently mocked by the main character, played by Will Smith.

“You’re more rough around the edges,” she told her son in the video. “So you’re more like a Will Smith.

Duke never offered a scholarship to Clarke, and he didn’t take any visits to Duke, perhaps because the Blue Devils realized early on that Clarke and his family didn’t think he was a “Duke kid.”

Kentucky has four recruits in the 2020 class, which is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation, according to 247Sports.com.

Duke has commitments from six players, including five-star small forward Jalen Johnson, who is ranked second to Clarke at the position in the 2020 class. Duke’s class is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation.

During player introductions at last season’s Countdown to Craziness season-opening event, walk-on Mike Buckmire invited assistant coach Nolan Smith onto to floor with him, and both performed the Carlton Dance made famous from the show.

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Shawn Krest
SHAWN KREST

Shawn Krest has covered Duke for the last decade. His work has appeared in The Sporting News, USA Today, CBSSports.com, ESPN.com and dozens of other national and regional outlets. Shawn's work has won awards from the USBWA, PFWA, BWAA and NC Press Association.

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