Finally out of the shadow of a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans, senior Jason Clark faces plenty of pressure to run the show at Georgetown.
But not according to those who put together the initial 50 candidates to watch for the Wooden Award, who left him off the list announced this week.
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Clark, who formed a three-headed backcourt monster for the Hoyas with Chris Wright and Austin Freeman in the fold, scored a career-best 12.0 points per game last season, including a career-high 26 points in the Hoyas’ 111-102 track meet victory over Missouri, and a game-high 23 points — with Wright injured — in Georgetown’s Big East tournament first-round loss to eventual national champion Connecticut.
But just as the Huskies in that contest had Kemba Walker, Clark’s competition in the Big East — which hasn’t yet been dismantled — will be as tough as ever. Pittsburgh’s Ashton Gibbs decided against going into the NBA Draft, while Scoop Jardine is the most experienced backcourt returner at Syracuse. Maalik Wayns will no longer share duties with Corey Fisher at Villanova, and Darius Johnson-Odom will be both fiery and relentless at Marquette.
Clark’s main objective, however, will be to improve his own game, after his 3-point prowess dipped to 34.7 percent as a junior, down from 42.4 percent as a sophomore. To get himself back into the discussion among the best guards in the Big East, and in the country, he’ll have to be more consistent beyond the arc. With Wright and Freeman gone, he’s certain to get more looks.
– Craig Stouffer
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