Freshman guard Skyy Clark stepping away from Illinois for 'personal reasons'

University of Illinois freshman guard Skyy Clark announced via social media Friday that he was stepping away from the school's basketball program for, "personal reasons." 

"I want to start by saying that I Love the University of Illinois, my coaching staff, my teammates and the broader Illini community," Clark's statement read. "I made friendships in these few short months that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. This decision has nothing to do with basketball but does have everything to do with prioritizing myself and my family's wellbeing." 

"For personal reasons, I need to step away from basketball for the time being - putting myself and my family first. I appreciate everyone's support during this time, but please respect not only privacy but the privacy of all those around me." 

Illinois head coach Brand Underwood released a statement shortly after Clark announced he was stepping away from the team, offering the freshman support.  

"Skyy is a thoughtful, caring young man who right now needs to prioritize himself and his family," Underwood's statement read. "This is bigger than basketball. We understand that and stand with him every step of the way." 

Clark played in 13 games this season for the Illini, starting 12. He averaged 7.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, playing 24.5 minutes per game. 

It's unclear when or if Clark will ever return to the Illinois program as he deals with a personal matter, but Friday's announcement sure sounded like goodbye. 

Clark took a turbulent road to Illinois. After tearing his ACL in 2021, Clark signed a letter of intent with Kentucky that November before de-committing last March. In April 2022, Clark committed to Illinois, signing officially a week later. 

247Sports ranked Clark as the 33rd-best prospect heading into the 2022-2023 season.