Whatever happened to Ivory Clark

PULLMAN – The last time we saw Ivory Clark, he was sitting on the Washington State bench, watching Vanderbilt finish out the Cougars’ season-ending 78-74 NCAA tournament second-round defeat.

Though he started the game, he played just 15 minutes, none in overtime. It bothered him. Enough, in fact, that when he returned to Pullman he sat down to do an interview with the Evergreen, WSU’s student newspaper, and blasted away at the basketball staff.

“I think I was really done bad this year,” Clark told the Evergreen, mentioning the Vanderbilt game and senior night, when he played just 8 minutes.

Now, nine months later, Clark, who came to WSU from Midland Junior College and averaged 6.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in his two-year, 64-game Cougars career, has tempered his view a little. But not much.

“I still feel the same way,” he said last Monday. “It wasn’t just about playing time, it was a lot (of other things). I think the decisions that were made ultimately affected my life, really.

“I really wanted to vent a little bit, but I didn’t really want to put it all out there like that. It really affected me, big-time.”

WSU head coach Tony Bennett, for his part, understands his decisions will not keep everyone happy. He still appreciates Clark’s contributions.

“He certainly helped the program out,” Bennett said last week. “You can’t always give every kid what he wants … but I do believe he was treated very well at the end, because he was given a chance to come back and get his education paid for, his third year paid for. … In the big picture, he’ll understand and appreciate it later.”

Clark, who talked with Bennett about his comments about a month after the season ended, does appreciate his Cougars career, though not all the time.

“Some days I look back and I think it was very productive and I really cherish those memories,” he said. “There are some other days where sometimes I regret it.

“It depends on the day you ask me.”

Clark attended classes in Pullman this fall, paid for by the athletic department, and just needs to finish one on-line class (“technically, I’m done,” he said) to graduate with a general studies degree. He was seen at football and basketball games, but otherwise kept a low profile, keeping his eyes on the degree. Now he’s looking forward, but the next step in his life seems fuzzy. It’s clear to him, however, it won’t be in the Palouse.

“I definitely think I’m going to take off, my time in Pullman has come and gone,” he said. “I might go back to New Orleans or I might just find a job on the West Side.”

There is a chance basketball may still be a choice, though the 6-foot-6 leaper (his 84 career blocked shots is ninth on WSU’s all-time list) hasn’t really played much since the Cougars’ 26-8 season ended that March day in Sacramento, Calif.

“I’m trying to get back in shape as we speak,” he said. “Some agents and teams overseas and the (NBA Developmental) League have shown their interest, I guess,” he said. “So I’m just trying to get back into shape to get more options.”

He’s watched his former teammates play and thinks they’re good. Still, he’s ambivalent about it all.

“Watching those guys play now, and seeing how well they are doing, it brings back some of those good memories,” he said. “I do miss playing at times. I miss it a lot, but, at the same time, it was such a sour taste I left with, I’m content with not playing.

“I think I miss sharing the moments with the guys the most, more than playing.”

No matter what happens, he knows he always has a place to play the last weekend in June.

“I’ve got so many requests for Hoopfest, man,” he said, “I could play on 12 different teams.”