Jaylen Clark

Jaylen Clark
Clark with UCLA in 2021
No. 22 – Minnesota Timberwolves
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2001-10-13) October 13, 2001 (age 23)
Riverside, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeUCLA (2020–2023)
NBA draft2023: 2nd round, 53rd overall pick
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–presentMinnesota Timberwolves
2023–present→Iowa Wolves
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Jaylen Bryce Clark[1] (born October 13, 2001[2][3]) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins of the Pac-12 Conference, earning national honors as both the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and NABC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior in 2023, when he was also voted the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. A two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Team selection, Clark was named second-team All-Pac-12 as well that year. He was selected by the Timberwolves in the second round of the 2023 NBA draft.

Early life and high school career

Clark was born in Riverside, California.[1] His father, who played one season of basketball at Modesto Junior College, was an elite perimeter defender.[4] Clark attended Centennial High School in Corona for three years before transferring to Etiwanda High in Rancho Cucamonga for his senior year.[5][6] Under Etiwanda coach David Kleckner, a defensive specialist, he developed into a two-way player who played unselfishly.[7][8] Clark averaged 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game at Etiwanda, and led the Eagles to the CIF Southern Section Open Division regional finals.[1][9] He signed a national letter of intent to play with UCLA in 2020.[10]

College career

In his freshman year at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2020–21, Clark was a reserve and averaged 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in nine minutes per game for the Bruins.[11] He made the game-winning free throw in an 80–79 win over Arizona State at home in Pauley Pavilion.[11][12] In the 2021 NCAA tournament, UCLA unexpectedly advanced to the Final Four.[13] Clark helped lead a 14-point comeback in the First Four with a layup, a pair of assists, and an offensive rebound in an 86–80 overtime win over Michigan State.[13][14] He had a season-high nine rebounds in 18 minutes in an overtime victory over second-seeded Alabama in the Sweet Sixteen.[1][11][15]

As a sophomore in 2021–22, Clark missed six games in January and February due to multiple concussions. Playing off the bench, he was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.[16] He averaged 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game.[17][18] In the nine games in which he played 20 or more minutes, Clark averaged 11.4 points and 5.6 rebounds.[19] In February, during a three-game span versus Washington State, Washington, and Arizona State, he averaged 19.7 points, making 3 of 8 on 3-pointers, and added 8.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals.[4][16] According to UCLA head coach Mick Cronin, "With consistent minutes, you’re going to see him produce a lot more on the offensive end".[16]

Clark became a full-time starter in his junior year in 2022–23 after Johnny Juzang and Jules Bernard departed.[18][20] In the Bruins' season opener, he scored 17 points on 7-of-7 shooting and had seven steals in a win over Sacramento State.[21] In the regular season finale against Arizona, he suffered a right Achilles tendon rupture and was ruled out for the 2023 Pac-12 tournament.[17][22] The top-seeded Bruins advanced to the tournament finals, before losing 61–59 to No. 2-seed Arizona.[23] UCLA, who was vying for a No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA tournament,[23] received a No. 2 seed in the West Region, but Clark was ruled out for the season.[24] He underwent surgery three days after the injury.[25] The Bruins lost in the Sweet Sixteen to Gonzaga, with an injured Adem Bona also missing the game for UCLA.[26] Clark averaged 2.6 steals per game during the season, which led the Pac-12 and ranked fourth in the nation.[15][27] One of the top defensive players in the country,[28] he won the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the National Association of Basketball Coaches named him their defensive player of the year.[15] Voted the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year,[27] he was selected again to the conference's all-defensive team, and was also named second-team All-Pac-12.[29] Clark significantly improved on offense and became UCLA's second-leading scorer.[20][27] He nearly doubled his scoring from the previous season,[28] averaging 13.0 points, six rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30.5 minutes over 30 games.[20][27] After the season, he declared for the NBA draft. The timetable for his recovery was estimated to be 8–10 months.[15][25]

Professional career

Minnesota Timberwolves (2023–present)

Clark was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2023 NBA draft with the 53rd overall pick.[30] On July 7, 2023, he signed a two-way contract with the Timberwolves,[31] and aimed to return to play around the middle or late in the season.[32] On March 28, 2024, he was transferred to the Iowa Wolves of the G League for rehab.[33] Clark played in the 2024 NBA Summer League, his first games since he tore his Achilles.[34]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 UCLA 31 0 9.0 .500 .200 .750 2.4 .2 .1 .2 2.5
2021–22 UCLA 29 6 18.1 .506 .259 .542 3.8 1.0 1.1 .2 6.7
2022–23 UCLA 30 29 30.5 .481 .329 .698 6.0 1.9 2.6 .3 13.0
Career 90 35 19.1 .490 .302 .661 4.1 1.0 1.3 .2 7.4

Source:[35]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Jaylen Clark". UCLA Athletics. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  2. ^ "Wishing a very Happy Birthday to Bruins' guard Jaylen Clark!". UCLA Men's Basketball. October 13, 2022. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Hollinger, John (January 23, 2023). "Hollinger: Suns' Jae Crowder trade dilemma; Grizzlies' and Pacers' deadline decisions". The Athletic. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023. Finally, Clark is at a point where his age starts to work against him since he's already a junior, albeit a relatively young one who won't turn 22 until October.
  4. ^ a b Bolch, Ben (February 23, 2022). "Jaylen Clark is fulfilling a promise that has bolstered No. 12 UCLA". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  5. ^ "Former Etiwanda High School star Jaylen Clark helps UCLA achieve thrilling 80-79 victory". Fontana Herald News. February 22, 2021. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  6. ^ Polacheck, Jacob (February 5, 2020). "Jaylen Clark to UCLA". Zagsblog. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Spratling, Shotgun (February 6, 2020). "Etiwanda's Jaylen Clark growing into player UCLA basketball wants". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Bolch, Ben (January 19, 2021). "Jaylen Clark could be just what UCLA's sagging defense needs". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Grosbard, Adam (April 15, 2020). "UCLA men's basketball announces additions of Jaylen Clark, Kentucky transfer Johnny Juzang". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  10. ^ "UCLA adds 2 guards, including Kentucky transfer Juzang". The Seattle Times. The Associated Press. April 15, 2020. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c Bolch, Ben (September 9, 2021). "UCLA basketball player Jaylen Clark is releasing his own cryptocurrency called $JROCK". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  12. ^ Gardner, Michelle (February 20, 2021). "UCLA slips past ASU on Jaylen Clark free throw with 1.4 seconds left". Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Bolch, Ben (June 9, 2021). "Honestly, UCLA's basketball recruits crave the truth about reaching their potential". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Stephen, Garrett (March 19, 2021). "Everything Mick Cronin said after UCLA's 86-80 OT win over Michigan State in First Four". 247Sports. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d Bolch, Ben (April 2, 2023). "Jaylen Clark becomes UCLA's first Naismith defensive player of the year winner". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c Davis, Seth (September 14, 2022). "The questions at UCLA, where Amari Bailey and a studded freshman class bring hope". The Athletic. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Borzello, Jeff (March 9, 2023). "Sources: UCLA's Jaylen Clark (Achilles) out for rest of season". ESPN. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Cobb, David (March 8, 2023). "Jaylen Clark injury: UCLA guard out for season after hurting Achilles as Bruins lose key defender". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  19. ^ Rothstein, Jon (November 9, 2022). "The Breakfast Buffet: Louisville's brutal opener, Jaylen Clark, Kansas may not be traditional Kansas". College Hoops Today. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  20. ^ a b c Thompson, Scott (March 8, 2023). "UCLA loses starting guard for March Madness with Achilles injury: reports". Fox News. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  21. ^ Fattal, Tarek (November 10, 2022). "UCLA hosts Long Beach State with Jaylen Clark as a not-so-secret weapon". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  22. ^ Brooks, Matt (March 29, 2024). "Nuggets host Timberwolves with chance at clinching playoff spot". NBA.com. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Bolch, Ben (March 11, 2023). "UCLA falls to Arizona in Pac-12 title game, hurting chances for a No. 1 NCAA seed". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  24. ^ Bolch, Ben (March 12, 2023). "March Madness: UCLA's seniors ready for their last chance to dance". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  25. ^ a b Bolch, Ben (March 29, 2023). "UCLA's Jaylen Clark declares for the NBA draft despite serious leg injury". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  26. ^ Bolch, Ben (March 23, 2023). "Jubilation turns into heartbreak as UCLA loses to Gonzaga again in NCAA tournament". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  27. ^ a b c d Koons, Zach (March 8, 2023). "UCLA's Jaylen Clark Out for Season With Achilles Injury, per Report". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Sweeney, Kevin (March 8, 2023). "Jaylen Clark's Season-Ending Injury Is a Crushing Blow to UCLA's Title Hopes". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  29. ^ "2022-23 Pac-12 Men's Basketball All-Conference honors and Annual Performance Awards, presented by Nextiva" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. March 7, 2023. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  30. ^ Fattal, Tarek (June 22, 2023). "NBA draft: UCLA's Jaime Jaquez Jr. goes to Heat at No. 18 overall". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  31. ^ "Timberwolves Sign Jaylen Clark to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  32. ^ Hine, Chris (July 7, 2023). "Timberwolves overcome slow start in 102-88 victory over New Orleans Pelicans in summer league". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  33. ^ "Timberwolves' Jaylen Clark: Heads to G League for rehab". CBS Sports. March 30, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  34. ^ Hine, Chris (October 24, 2024). "Jaylen Clark's standout defense and other observations from Timberwolves summer league". The Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  35. ^ "Jaylen Clark College Stats". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
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