At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, hundreds of players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today’s edition will highlight Jeff Clark of New Garden Friends.
We’ve seen Clark several times over the last few years, as our own Cooper Hart previously stated, “Clark improved his stock as much as anyone this weekend due to his constant energy and eye-popping athleticism. He thrived in transition scenarios, using his athleticism and motor to get down the court and finish around and through defenses with regularity. Defensively, he can do everything from stop the point of attack, to protect the rim on weakside rotations. Clark has a great first step and was able to generate a lot of rim attempts in the half-court by attacking closeouts. The expansion of his outside game showed promising flashes and as his handle and jumper continue to progress, expect his ceiling to grow higher and higher.”
Fast-forward a few months, and Clark is quietly enjoying one of the most productive all-around seasons across North Carolina. The long, athletic, high-motor forward is averaging 19.1 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 1.5 BPG—leading his team in four of the five major statistical categories. He’s smart, skilled, and adaptable enough to be featured in a variety of different roles. Clark is a useful initiator and overall creator who consistently makes his presence felt as a two-way rebounder. The Bears have also been fairly successful as a group, standing at 14-9 with multiple nice wins on their schedule. However, Clark is clearly worthy of increased attention from college coaches as the ultimate focal point for this group.
