The Milwaukee Bucks may be the most-followed basketball team in the city, but they are far from the only one. Both the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University have their teams playing their games downtown. As most fans know, the Bucks share Fiserv Forum with Marquette in the same way they shared the Bradley Center before.
The Bucks and Marquette are also linked, at the moment, by the fact that Milwaukee’s head coach, Doc Rivers, is an alumnus of the university. Jae Crowder, who spent the last season and a half with the Bucks, also went to Marquette.
Interestingly, a former Bucks lottery pick, as well as a NBA legend, played a huge role in the university landing one of its biggest (literally) prospects.
Seven-Foot Center Josh Clark Committed to Marquette University
Last week Friday, seven-foot center Josh Clark from Clements High School in Houston, Texas committed to Marquette after visiting the campus:
2024 recruit Josh Clark (@jcl8rk) commits to @MarquetteMBB on May 10, 2024 #mubb pic.twitter.com/Ag4PCYSmyF
— Marquette Overload (@MUOverload) May 11, 2024
According to Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the recruitment process for Clark was a fast process, which is not normal for head coach Shaka Smart:
“I saw the name and saw that he was an unsigned senior, so made a couple calls and turned on my computer and went to the EYBL live stream,” Smart said. “Started watching him and was like, man, this guy’s a real prospect. He’s got a real chance.”
Clark averaged 11.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game as a senior.
Former Milwaukee Bucks Point Guard TJ Ford and NBA Legend Hakeem Olajuwon Helped Josh Clark Develop as a Player
Also according to Steele, Coach Smart decided to contact Clark’s mentor prior to inviting him to campus. Clark’s mentor happens to be Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, who has spent his years in retirement working with big men.
Of working with “The Dream,” Clark is quoted by Steele as saying:
“But most of my game, I would say, came from Hakeem. Him being a mentor, basically, my whole high school career. It’s really a blessing. Because I would say he’s the best to ever play the center position, in my opinion. A lot of people say the same.”
Clark also revealed that one of the people who has worked with him the most on his game is former Bucks lottery pick TJ Ford, who was drafted in 2003:
“We have a good relationship. He teaches me a lot of the shooting side of the game and guard work and everything like that.
“Him and his brother, they do a lot for me. Let me get shots up in the gym and stuff like that.”
Ford went to college at Texas and played for the Bucks for three seasons, though he missed one of them with a back injury.
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