Terrence Clarke got his NBA draft moment.
Clarke, a Dorchester, Mass. native who grew up in Roxbury before starring at Brewster Academy and the University of Kentucky, was expected to be selected during the 2021 NBA Draft. But he tragically was killed in a car crash in April.
As the draft continued Thursday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver honored Clarke with a ceremonious selection. His family took the stage as the crowd chanted his name.
“His extraordinary talent, commitment and dedication to the game deserve to be recognized on this stage,” Silver said before introducing Clarke’s mother, sister and brother.
“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 Boston Celtics also recognized Clarke with a Twitter post following the selection:
Numerous members of the Celtics organization, including Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker, remembered Clarke as news of his death broke.
“I’m working my hardest just so I can get there,” Clarke said in a Dec. 2019 interview with MassLive. “I know I want to put on for everybody else in the city, especially me being from Boston, if I was to even play in (TD Garden), I’d be blessed as ever. I’m working my hardest so I can put on for my city.”
Clarke was 19 at the time of this death.
