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The NBA did not leave Terrence Clarke out of the 2021 NBA Draft.
The Kentucky Wildcats guard, who tragically died in an April car crash, had his presence felt in a big way on Thursday when the NBA made him a first-round pick.
“Terrence was expected to be drafted tonight,” commissioner Adam Silver announced. “His extraordinary talent, said and dedication to the game deserves to be recognized. .. He will forever be part of the NBA family.
“It is my honor to now announce that with the next pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the NBA selects Terrence Clarke from the University of Kentucky.”
The touching moment was made even more so when Clarke’s mother Osmine, brother Gavin, and sister Tatyana, came up to the stage to join Silver.
They weren’t alone in remembering the 19-year-old Bostonian this week. Kentucky coach John Calipari honored his former player ahead of Thursday’s first round.
“I want to take a moment to remind everyone that this would have been Terrence Clarke’s big night as well,” Calipari tweeted. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him, his mom, Osmine, and their family. I can only imagine how wide that smile of his would have been hearing his name called.
“I’ve got a feeling Terrence will be watching down on his teammates tonight and telling them to relax, enjoy the moment and have fun. That was the kind of person he was.”
Several prospects and former teammates also took time to remember their friend.
“A good representation of this draft class is a player that passed in Terrence Clark,” Florida State wing Scottie Barnes told media on Wednesday. “You just saw how much joy and enthusiasm he played with. He represented us all, just being great guys.”
“This would have been your big night, @terrenceclarke_. We haven’t forgotten that bright smile of yours and we will never forget it,” the Kentucky Men’s Basketball team account tweeted.
In the past, the NBA has honored players who were supposed to be drafted. Most recently, Isaiah Austin was selected by the NBA after he was forced to retire due to a genetic disorder called Marfan syndrome.