Report: Clemson forward Jack Clark cleared to play following groin injury

Clemson basketball started the week out with some good news on Monday morning, as college hoops insider Jon Rothstein reports that forward Jack Clark has been cleared to return.

According to a tweet by Rothstein, Clark has healed from his groin injury and is now able to fully participate in practice and hopefully the team’s initial games starting next week. Here was that report:

“Clemson’s Jack Clark (groin) has been fully cleared for all basketball related activities, per Brad Brownell. Transfer from NC State. Averaged 9 PPG and 6.9 RPG last season. Projected to be a starter for the Tigers in 2023-24.”

Rothstein last said Clark was questionable for the Nov. 6 season-opener vs. Winthrop, but it appears, barring any further complications, that the NC State transfer will be available to start the season.

As a player, Clark was a terrific addition through the portal for Brad Brownell and Clemson. He comes over from fellow ACC competitor NC State in a bit of a forward swap. Clark left the Wolfpack to join the Tigers, while Clemson’s own former power forward, Ben Middlebrooks, also hit the portal but wound up in Raleigh with NC State.

So, the obvious question is: who won that trade? Well, all the numbers point to Clark. He averaged right at 9.0 points per game along with 6.9 rebounds per contest, while Middlebrooks averaged 3.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in comparison. Clark also put up better analytical numbers as a more impactful defensive presence and efficient scorer inside the arc.

The issue with Clark is that he falls in love with his jumper at times. He made 60% of his two-point shots last year from the four-spot, but dropped his overall efficiency by jacking up more threes per game (4.2) than twos (3.7) while making just 28% of them.

With a gunner like Joe Girard coming over From Syracuse, plus a knockdown guy in Jake Heidbreder from Air Force, along with a starting center, PJ Hall, who can step out and knock down threes, there’s really no reason for Clark to chuck them up too — at least, not at the rate he did last season.

Jack Clark is the ideal modern four man — a heck of an offensive rebounder (2.0 per game in ’23) with tremendous defensive versatility and efficient scoring inside the arc. He doesn’t have to force himself to be more involved offensively when the best version of himself is as a role player who crashes the glass, guards opposing wings and cleans up on pick-and-roll finishes from Girard and Chase Hunter.