Baylor Bear Insider
Knowing that he's ranked among the best players in the country and a "potential next-level prospect" made it tough for Baylor senior forward Tristan Clark to give up the game of basketball that he loves so much.
But, there is also a peace in a decision that he agonized over before announcing his intentions on Twitter, saying he is going to "retire from basketball and focus on my next steps in life."
"It's kind of mixed emotions," Clark said Wednesday in a media session. "Since I'm so young, I'm only 21, you want to keep going, you want to keep playing. I just decided that I didn't want to put myself through all the pain and mental issues. I'm at peace with it, because I know I did everything I could to get back and to fight with my team and get back on the court.
"I'm at peace knowing that I was one of the best players in the country at one time. I can tell my children that, I can tell whoever that I'm helping that you don't have to just stick with basketball, just hoop forever. You can do more than that. That's what I want my message to be with the future athletes I'll work with."
Before suffering a season-ending knee injury on Jan. 8, 2019, the 6-foot-10 forward from San Antonio was averaging 14.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks and leading the nation with a 73.7 field goal percentage through the first 14 games of his sophomore season.
A preseason All-Big 12 selection who was on the Karl Malone Award watch list going into the 2019-20 season, his averages dipped to 4.0 points and 2.4 rebounds during a difficult junior campaign that saw him play in 22 of the 30 games before the season was cut short by COVID-19.
"There were days I couldn't practice, there were days I just had to be in the training room all day," he said. "Some days, I couldn't walk. But, I just told myself and kept challenging myself to keep going because I love the game and we're the best team in the country. When you're a competitor, you want to be out there, so you push yourself. It's a good thing but also a bad thing, especially knowing that you have a real serious injury as well."
Baylor coach Scott Drew said it was emotional for Clark when he shared his decision with the team, because "he's such a caring guy, a loving guy who always wants to help his teammates as much as possible."
In his Twitter announcement, Clark called his Baylor teammates his "brothers for life. And while it will be hard to not be out there with you this season, I'll be your biggest supporter as you chase that title."
Through his injury, rehabilitation and constant physical and mental battles over the last 22 months, Clark said he became interested in the sports psychology field and helping other athletes deal with similar struggles.
"I just feel like I'm going to use my pain and my frustration and everything that I went through, I'm going to use it as motivation so I can help people and I can impact the world the best way I can," he said. "Even though there was a lot of stuff that I had to go through, I feel like I can use all this and I have a story to tell to other athletes. I can relate to them and just help athletes and make an impact off the court as much as I did on the court."
That includes mentoring and working with the players tasked with filling the void he leaves on a team that is ranked No. 1 in the coaches' preseason poll and No. 2 by the Associated Press. With Clark limited last season, 6-9 senior forward Freddie Gillespie had a breakout season, averaging 9.6 points and 9.0 rebounds to earn second-team All-Big 12 honors and the league's Most Improved Player Award.
This year's candidates include 6-9 junior Flo Thamba, 6-8 sophomore Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua and freshmen Zach Loveday and Dain Dainja.
Drew said Thamba, who averaged 2.3 points and 2.2 rebounds last season, "knows our offense, knows our defense, and I feel like he's ready to take a major step forward. He's really been doing well in practice and is excited to show the nation what he's already shown his teammates."
While Thamba may not be able to replace Clark's scoring ability in the post, "one thing we pride ourselves on is mental toughness and coming in and rebounding and playing defense and making the offense flow easier," he said.
Clark calls Thamba "a raw talent, but he works hard, he plays hard and he's going to do what he has to do."
Originally from Cameroon, Tchamwa Tchatchoua sat out last season after averaging 3.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in his one season at UNLV.
"Jon is somebody who is very similar to Freddie and has worked extremely hard and has really improved since he's been here," Drew said. "You look at his numbers at (UNLV), and he didn't do much there. But, he's got such a great motor and such a great work ethic and energy about him. He provides the team a lot."
Clark said JTT is "going to surprise a lot of people."
"He is super athletic, one of the most athletic players I've ever played with or seen," Clark said. "I think he's going to lead the team in rebounding, in my eyes. He's an underrated defender on the perimeter, as well as the interior. I just feel like he's a good fit for the team."
Baylor opens the 2020-21 season with a two-week road trip, beginning with a matchup against 18th-ranked Arizona State at 8:30 p.m. next Wednesday, Nov. 25, at the Empire Classic in Uncasville, Conn., that will be televised by ESPN.
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