Texas basketball forward John Clark to return for his sophomore season

Over the last few weeks, the Longhorns men’s basketball roster has undergone many changes. However, on Monday, Sean Miller was able to let out a sigh of relief when forward John Clark announced that he will be returning for the 2026-2027 campaign. While Clark did not appear in a game during his freshman season, he arrived on campus with high expectations.

Coming out of high school, the Missouri native was ranked as a four-star recruit by 247Sports. They also ranked Clark as the ninth-best center in his class and the fifth-best player from Missouri. Although he was unable to carve out a role, Clark still sees Texas as the best place for him to be.

With the former Link Academy High Star officially back in the mix, Texas has a player with the tools to be very efficient offensively to plug into the rotation. During his high school career, Clark showed that he could snatch boards in traffic and create opportunities for his teammates. The areas in which he struggled the most were in protecting the rim and closing out on the perimeter.

As the Longhorns look to end their national title drought, they will have a talented roster to rely on. Their additions through the portal include Elyjah Freeman, Isaiah Johnson, David Punch, and Amari Evans. That group will be joined by one of the nation's best freshman classes.

For Clark, the focus this season will be to carve out a bench role behind Matas Vokieitaitis, who set career highs in points and rebounds per game as a sophomore. If Clark can do that, then his second season in burnt orange will be a successful one.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: John Clark will return to Texas basketball for sophomore season