OT - Former Michigan Target Skyy Clark Leaves Illinois Basketball Program Mid-Season

Submitted by RogueRage on January 6th, 2023 at 3:23 PM

Skyy Clark was a former top-40 recruit that Michigan targeted but ultimately ended up at Illinois. Started nearly every game this year for them at point guard (averaging 7/4/2). He announced today that he's leaving the Illinois program mid-season - maybe a potential target for Juwan next year? Either way seems obvious Underwood has lost that locker room 

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/former-kentucky-commit-skyy-clark-leaves-illinois/

FrankMurphy

January 7th, 2023 at 6:45 PM ^

I had a meeting with a new hire a few years back and we got to talking about alma maters. I told her I went to Michigan and she gave me a sheepish grin and said, "Oh no! I went to one of your big rivals. I hope you won't hold that against me!" I assumed she meant OSU or MSU. I had to hold back my laughter when I learned that she was referring to Illinois.

Flying Dutchman

January 6th, 2023 at 5:39 PM ^

Oh, that fanbase sucks ass in a big way.  It’s not their hatred for Michigan.  There’s tons of Michigan loyalty hanging around Chicago anyway to wash it out.  
 

Here it is:  When Illinois basketball and football sucks, which is most of the time, it’s really as if they have no fans at all.  But, when they do have a good team, well, damn, then they act like they have been a goddamn dynasty year in and year out since time immemorial.  
 

Its the worst fair weather status you could imagine.  And every last one of them is guilty.   

blueheron

January 6th, 2023 at 5:58 PM ^

Indiana basketball fans are definitely special.

I'm a longtime Chicagoan and ... I can't relate to a lot of the responses here about Illinois fans. I must have been lucky. I've heard plenty about their "rivalry" with Michigan but most of the alums I know recognize that it's a little ridiculous.

MadtownMaize

January 6th, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^

Only Texas (before firing their BB coach) could claim to have a bigger pair of asshats run their FB and BB programs than Illinois. Underwood and Bielema are pathetic. 

Jordan2323

January 6th, 2023 at 3:48 PM ^

The good thing is that as a freshman the credits thing won’t be an issue for Michigan. He ultimately will head to the NBA in a year or so anyway. Can’t remember where he was at on our list but may be worth kicking the tires on. It’s only fair after they got Shannon after we couldn’t accept him as a transfer. 

Team 101

January 6th, 2023 at 6:14 PM ^

An Illini friend of mine told me they were having problems.  I thought they got off to a good start.  After we lost to CMU I stopped keeping track of the others because it became impossible for us to come out on top in the schadenfreude competition.

BlueinKyiv

January 6th, 2023 at 7:57 PM ^

Given he has a PG brother with an offer from Kansas coming out in 23, I would think the return of the pursuit of Skyy would make a lot of sense for a Michigan team with only one true point currently on the roster and none committed for 23. Michigan is all about keeping it in the family.

KSmooth

January 6th, 2023 at 10:08 PM ^

We shall see.  Underwood says that Skyy Clark remains a part of the program.  For his part Clark is saying this is purely a personal/family situation.  He's probably done at Illinois -- but even that isn't totally clear.

Maize and Luke

January 7th, 2023 at 9:00 AM ^

Underwood is an absolute lunatic on the bench, but because of the incident last year, if Juwan looks at a ref the wrong way it’s plastered all over the internet that he’s a loose cannon.