LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky freshman guard Terrence Clarke died Thursday following a car accident in Los Angeles. He was 19.
The university announced Clarke’s death in a release Thursday night. Coach John Calipari said he was “absolutely gutted and sick tonight” and called the player “a beautiful kid, someone who owned the room with his personality, smile and joy.”
“We are all in shock,” Calipari said. “I am on my way to Los Angeles to be with his mother and his brother to help wherever I can. This will be a difficult period for all those who know and love Terrence.”
Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant John Matassa, who works in the Valley Traffic Division, told ESPN that Clarke was the only occupant in a 2021 Hyundai Genesis that ran a red light at high speed in the Northridge area of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley at approximately 2:10 p.m. PDT.
Matassa said surveillance video showed that Clarke collided with a truck preparing to turn left, then hit a street light pole and a block wall.
Clarke was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical, where he was pronounced dead.
He had not been wearing his seat belt properly, Matassa said. The other driver did not claim any injuries.
Clarke had reportedly been working out on Thursday with his Kentucky teammate Brandon “BJ” Boston. Radio station WKYT in Lexington reported that, at the time of the crash, Boston was in another car following Clarke.
Boston is an alumnus of prep basketball powerhouse Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, 4 miles from the crash site.
The 6-foot-7 Clarke entered the NBA draft last month. He played in just eight games last season because of a leg injury, and averaged 9.6 points and 2.6 rebounds.
Clarke, who attended high school in Boston, started Kentucky’s first six games and was one of its top scorers, highlighted by a career-best 22 points in a loss to Georgia Tech on Dec. 6. The injury ultimately sidelined him for the entire Southeastern Conference regular-season schedule, though he returned to post three assists and two points off the bench in the Wildcats’ SEC Tournament loss to Mississippi State.
Despite his limited action, Clarke announced his decision to enter the NBA draft on March 19.
On Wednesday, Clarke and Boston had both signed professional contracts with Klutch Sports Group. Agency CEO Rich Paul announced on Twitter that “we are saddened and devastated” by Clarke’s passing and called him “an incredibly hard-working young man.”
Clarke was southbound on Winnetka Avenue when he reportedly ran the red light at Nordhoff. The speed limit on that stretch of road is 40 mph.