Skyy Clark has started to find his footing as the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball point guard after a rocky debut.
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By Anderson Kimball Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — During the Illinois men's basketball game against Monmouth,
Brad Underwood got a pleasant surprise from his freshman point guard
Skyy Clark.
Clark went up to him and suggested a couple plays to run, showing a comfort running the offense in just his third collegiate game.
"I mean thinking it and understanding it," Underwood said. "And that's tremendous maturity."
Clark, a four-star recruit and crown jewel of the Illini’s latest recruiting class, ran pick-and-rolls and has operated the offense efficiently as a lead guard the past two games after a rocky start.
He had a team-high six assists Monday that included a couple off two-man action with
Dain Dainja. He'll be the team's floor general when it goes to Las Vegas to play No. 8 UCLA on Friday (8:30 p.m. ESPNU).
"That was big progress," Underwood said. "Skyy in high school went and finished those plays because of his athleticism and his strength. His strength got him those plays and his decision making; basketball IQ made the right pocket passes."
ark said there were a lot of emotions in his first college game, one that’s his first competitive game since rehab and an ACL tear with a couple minor injuries kept him out for most of his senior season.
"It's all good emotions, I can tell you that," Clark said. "Having a crowd rooting for you, especially that many people, is amazing."