Basketball community mourns the tragic losses of Terrence Clarke, Dorian Pinson

Kelsea O'Brien
Apr 23 2021

There were a few games yesterday. There was some news, and there were some stories. But to be honest, there are only two that feel right to talk about.

Maybe it is because this past weekend, a friend of mine and former Lincoln Memorial University G/F, Dorian Pinson drowned in Georgia’s Lake Lanier after renting a boat for the afternoon with his friends. His body has yet to be recovered. He was rehabbing a minor injury, but was excited about his next career venture after playing in CEBL and NBL Canada for the past three seasons.

His passing feels like a blip in the news, a quick break between updates of COVID-related deaths and mass shootings. An unfortunate palate cleanser from what has become the norm.

And Thursday night, though I didn’t know him personally, the same feeling that I had felt only days earlier came back, when I heard the news of University of Kentucky standout and NBA Draft hopeful Terrence Clarke’s devastating passing in a car accident in Los Angeles. Clarke had signed with Klutch Sports only a day before, and was expected to be a high lottery pick.

His mother’s life was about to change in ways you can only dream about as a mother.

Instead, it became her worst nightmare.

That’s two mothers who have to bury their sons.

Two futures turned to funerals.

Two communities ripped apart in an instant.

Two news stories that deserve more than five minutes of attention.

BasketballNews.com extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the Clarke and Pinson families at this difficult time.