Note: This is part of an ongoing series of player previews of the 2009-10 Hoyas.
Perhaps no Hoya stands to benefit from the turnover on Georgetown’s roster as much as sophomore guard Jason Clark.
Clark came to Georgetown last year after a successful career at D.C.-area Bishop O’Connell, where he was twice chosen All-Met, including as player of the year his senior year. As a freshman, Clark made valuable contributions. Playing 18 minutes per game, Clark averaged 5.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and just under 1 assist, and shot well from the field. Despite standing just 6’2″, Clark has extremely long arms and is a particularly gifted athlete, making him an invaluable defensive presence. However, he was also extremely turnover-prone – a team-wide flaw that, along with rebound margin (and, related to both, a general listlessness presumably caused by chemistry issues), submarined the Hoyas’ season.
Encouragingly, Clark improved, earning more minutes as the season wore on, largely at the expense of Jessie Sapp. In the last 10 games in particular, Clark went up in nearly every statistical category over his full-season averages (including, unfortunately, turnovers). Somewhat disturbingly, it’s not clear that the Hoyas were better with Clark on the floor than with him on the pine.
Clark shined at the Kenner League this summer, shooting well and playing energetic defense. (You can check out full summaries here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.) Apparently he posterized Michael Beasley at one point, a feat perhaps made marginally less astounding by Beasley’s apparent substance-abuse problems. Clark used his energy and quickness both to good and to ill — on the one hand, grabbing rebounds, disrupting passing lanes, and finishing on the break, while, on the other, occasionally getting ahead of himself and coughing the ball up.
The coming season is wide open for Clark. The graduation of Sapp and transfer of Omar Wattad leave plenty of minutes to be had in the backcourt, particularly if JTIII puts Austin Freeman as the 3 in a three-guard offense. Depending on performance and opposing lineup, Clark will likely compete with Hollis Thompson for a starting spot. Regardless of whether he starts, though, Clark will be counted for greater contributions, particularly in relief of Chris Wright at the point. How effective Clark can be as the lead guard seems largely dependent upon the restraint he demonstrates offensively. If he can protect the ball better and find his teammates with greater frequency, Clark’s high-tempo energy could provide the spark that Georgetown’s offense sometimes lacks.
Clark will see time off the ball as well. As the best-returning three-point shooter, Clark will need to help space opposing defenses, and punish those defenses that collapse on Hoya back-cuts and Monroe post-ups. His athleticism and ability to finish in traffic may help him finish on the aforementioned back-cuts. Due to his quickness, energy, and long arms, Clark can make an impact defensively and on the boards, two areas where Sapp’s absence will be felt.
Like many of his teammates, Jason Clark is a player of unquestioned talent entering a season of great opportunity. If he seizes that opportunity this season, the Hoya backcourt will be all the more formidable.
