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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks the ball against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 30, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Heartbreaking report from ESPN’s Shams Charania as Gonzaga Bulldogs alum and Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke tragically passed away in Los Angeles, California, on Monday, May 11.
Per TMZ Sports, his death is being investigated as a possible drug overdose. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded around 5 p.m. PT, and he was then declared deceased. Officials found drug paraphernalia at the scene.
Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the 6-8 talent started his collegiate career with the San Jose State Spartans for two seasons from 2015-17 before transferring to Gonzaga. The Memphis organization selected him with the No. 21 pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, and he spent his whole NBA career with the Grizzlies.
His lone season in the Pacific Northwest was filled with memorable moments, from the absurd block against the Tennessee Volunteers’ Yves Pons in Phoenix, Arizona, the high-flying throwdowns at the Santa Clara Broncos and San Francisco Dons on the Bay Area road trip, and so many others. An eye-popping fact when reflecting on Clarke’s 2018-19 campaign with the Zags was that he had as many blocks as he had missed field goals at 117 each.
Clarke still holds Gonzaga program records for the highest field goal percentage in a season (68.7 percent) and the most offensive rebounds in a season (114 total). His defensive presence and strong finishing ability above the rim could be felt throughout the entire arenas he stepped into.
On a personal note, I lived in the same building and floor as him for the 2018-19 school year. Down-to-earth human being and a hell of a basketball player.
The ‘pogo stick’ was taken from the world much too soon. Prayers go out to his mother, Whitney Triplett, his stepfather, Bryan Triplett, and his birth father, Steve Clarke.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
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