Second-team All-Big East guard Adam “Budd” Clark will enter the transfer portal after one year with the Seton Hall Pirates. Announced on Thursday, the star leaves after a dominant first year in the Big East. Clark is now the fourth Pirate to enter the portal since its opening. He is thought to be a sought-after prospect for teams this portal season.
The junior guard reportedly left due to an apparent contract disagreement with the organization. His price was supposedly too high above what Seton Hall considered fair.
Seton Hall Star Budd Clark Enters Transfer Portal
Coming off an impressive junior year, Clark has put his name into the transfer portal. This comes as a giant blow for the Pirates, as he was their number one option throughout the season. Spending two years at Merrimack before coming to Seton Hall last year, he immediately acclimated to his new Big East environment. Clark averaged 12.7 points and 4.9 assists in 33 games played.
In his first, and possibly only, season in the conference, he took home several awards. Apart from his All-Big East nod, Clark was named to the conference’s All-Defensive team as well. He was responsible for much of the Pirates’ success this season, as they reached the Big East semifinals. Here, he was also named to the All-Tournament team.
Seton Hall’s Transfer Troubles
Within the first few days of the transfer portal opening, Seton Hall has lost four players. Clark, undoubtedly the most significant loss so far, joins other notable Pirates. Freshman Najai Hines is leaving his hometown team after a productive first year. Additionally, TJ Simpkins, who averaged nearly 10 points this season, is also transferring after just a year with the program.
Seton Hall faces a challenging task in finding replacements for these departures. The Hall is also losing senior guard A.J. Staton-McCray, who was averaging 11.8 PPG. It will be intriguing to see how the Pirates get new players and how they develop the talent they can retain.
Clark’s Next Chapter
After such a dominant season, Clark is aiming for ample opportunities with a new program. However, his price, after being reportedly too high for Seton Hall, may also turn other prospective teams away.
With Clark’s senior season on the horizon, one can expect a headline destination for the guard. After a standout campaign in the Big East, his production should prove very influential in negotiations.
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