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USATSI

One month and one day after requesting a release from his Letter of Intent to the University of Kentucky, five-star point guard Skyy Clark announced he has flipped his pledge and committed to the University of Illinois. Clark chose the Illini in a Thursday decision aired live on ESPNU at the State Champions Invitational over finalists Louisville, USC, Tennessee, Maryland and Washington.

The No. 5 point guard prospect in the 2022 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Clark originally committed to Kentucky in October 2020 over Memphis, North Carolina and UCLA. He then signed with the Wildcats in November 2021 before requesting, and receiving, his release to explore other options.

With Kentucky, Clark may have seen the writing on the wall that he may have been entering into a role off the bench to start his career. UK is expected to bring back starting point guard Sahvir Wheeler and is enrolling five-star combo guard Cason Wallace, a top-10 prospect who will likely start right away in Lexington.

At Illinois, though, Clark likely lands in a perfect spot to step in and contribute. Starting point guard Andre Curbelo recently entered the transfer portal and its senior-heavy backcourt of Trent Frazier and Alfonso Plummer are all likely gone, too, which should pave the way for him to walk into heavy minutes in a guard-friendly system under coach Brad Underwood.

Clark is the fourth commitment for the Illini in the 2022 class and the highest-rated of the bunch. His pledge moves the program from 18th in the recruiting rankings to eighth overall and third among Big Ten teams. He joins four-star talents Ty Rodgers, Jayden Epps and Sencire Harris among incoming high school talents for 2022.