NBA Draft Prospect, Former Kentucky Guard Terrence Clarke Dies in Car Accident

Clarke was among the top recruits in the 2020 class and spent one season at Kentucky. He had recently signed with Klutch Sports ahead of July's NBA draft.

Former Kentucky guard and 2021 NBA draft prospect Terrence Clarke has died in a car accident in Los Angeles. He was 19 years old.

Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul confirmed the report to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, offering prayers to Clarke's family in a statement.

"We are saddened and devastated by the tragic loss of Terrence Clarke," Paul said. "He was an incredible, hard-working young man. He was excited for what was ahead of him and ready to fulfill his dreams. Our prayers go out to Terrence and his family, who ask for privacy during this difficult time."

Clarke was reportedly in Los Angeles with former Kentucky teammate and fellow draft prospect BJ Boston. The pair were leaving a workout and had just signed with Klutch Sports on Wednesday.

Kentucky released a statement Thursday evening in which head coach John Calipari and athletics director Mitch Barnhart described Clarke as a "beautiful kid" who was "so full of life."

"I am absolutely gutted and sick tonight," Calipari said. "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. Terrence Clarke was a beautiful kid, someone who owned the room with his personality, smile and joy. 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."

Calipari said he was en route to Los Angeles to join Clarke's family, including his mother and brother.

"We are stunned by this sudden, heartbreaking tragedy," Barnhart said. "Terrence was a young man who was so full of life and so full of promise. 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."

Clarke, one of the top recruits from the 2020 class, was limited to just eight games this season after suffering a foot injury. He averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 28.6 minutes per game, shooting 42.1% from the field.

Tarek Fattal of the Los Angeles Daily News later reported that Boston was O.K. and was driving behind Clarke when the accident occurred.

Other players around college basketball and the NBA offered condolences for Clarke:

Damn. RIP Terrence Clarke 🙏🏾

— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) April 23, 2021

you gone too soon.

— Jalen Green🤍 (@JalenGreen) April 23, 2021

Tell the people you love, you love them! Cherish every moment you get with them. Every single one. 🕊

— James Bouknight (@jam3s210) April 23, 2021

#Celtics head coach Brad Stevens cuts his postgame press conference short after the team's win tonight after hearing the news about Terrence Clarke.

"It's hard to talk about a basketball game with even the idea that that's floating out there." @ABC6 pic.twitter.com/j59VBUpmlB

— Nick Coit (@NCoitABC6) April 23, 2021

Rest Easy Terrence Clarke😞🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/yyAgoEIhcT

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) April 23, 2021

Rest In Peace Terrence Clarke
Keep the Clarke family in your prayers 🙏🏾 https://t.co/I0nkTbEDIu

— JJJ (@jarenjacksonjr) April 23, 2021

Rest In Peace Terrence Clarke 🙏🏽😢 absolutely devastating to say the least

— Cassius Stanley (@cassius_stanley) April 23, 2021

My heart is extremely heavy right now! 🥺 HUG YOUR LOVED ONES! Prayers up to my man Terrence Clarke’s Family! ❤️ MUCH LOVE BRO! #riptclarke

— Tyrese Maxey (@TyreseMaxey) April 23, 2021