Illinois freshman point guard Skyy Clark confirmed Friday that he has taken a leave of absence from the program.
In separate statements, Clark and coach Brad Underwood said that his decision to step away from basketball was family-related.
“This decision has nothing to do with basketball, but it does have everything to do with prioritizing myself and my family’s wellbeing,” Clark wrote on social media. “For personal reasons, I need to step away from basketball for the time being — putting myself and my family first. I appreciate everyone’s support during this time, but please respect not only my privacy but the privacy of all those around me.”
“Skyy has made the decision to take some time away from basketball,” Underwood said. “He remains a valued part of our program and will continue to receive our full support. Skyy is a thoughtful, caring young man who right now needs to prioritize himself and his family. This is bigger than basketball. We understand that and stand with him every step of the way.”
Clark was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2022, was ranked the No. 6 point guard and the No. 33 overall prospect in the class by the 247Sports composite. He originally committed to Kentucky before flipping to Illinois.
In 13 games (12 starts) with the Illini, Clark recorded 7.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Illinois has gotten off to a turbulent start to the conference schedule, losing its first three Big Ten games. It hosts No. 14 Wisconsin on Saturday.
–Field Level Media
