In a surprise move, the UCLA Bruins lost guard Skyy Clark to the transfer portal on Tuesday. Clark spent the past two seasons with the Bruins and is currently appealing for an additional year of eligibility, which has yet to be resolved.
Clark spent his freshman season with Illinois, where he played in just 13 games due to a personal matter. While Clark is looking to get back that season of eligibility, he’s also looking for some security with an NIL deal for next season.
According to The Orange County Register, Clark was looking to stick with UCLA but the Bruins weren’t ready to invest in Clark without the certainty of him being granted an extra season of eligibility.
“He wanted us to guarantee his spot and his money, and we can’t do that while we’re waiting for his ruling,” a source close to UCLA told the SCNG on Tuesday.
Without Clark, Dent or Bilodeau in the fold for the 2026-2027 season, Mick Cronin will have to find some new foundational blocks to build around. Clark is a Los Angeles native, who has already played for three different colleges.
“It wouldn’t be like he was trying to get another year to go somewhere else,” one source close to Clark told the SCNG last month. “He’d get another year to stay at UCLA, with the idea to be under (Mick) Cronin again.”
Clark averaged 11.5 points per game in 26 games with UCLA last season. Clark’s best attribute is his terrific shooting, with Clark at 38.5% from three for his career and 42.7% last season. If this is it for Clark at UCLA, he left it all out there for the Bruins. Clark lost part of his tooth in the NCAA tournament win over UCF.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: LA native and UCLA guard Skyy Clark enters the transfer portal
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
