Marquette quickly landed a 7-footer thanks to Hakeem Olajuwon and some work by Shaka Smart

When Marquette men's basketball coach Shaka Smart sat down in his living room last Saturday, he wasn't expecting that he would have a 7-footer on his roster by the end of the week.

Perusing a scouting service report, Smart was intrigued by the profile of Josh Clark, a 2024 prospect from Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas, who hadn't committed anywhere. Smart had an open scholarship slot for next season, so it couldn't hurt to take a look at Clark playing in an AAU game.

"I saw the name and saw that he was an unsigned senior, so made a couple calls and turned on my computer and went to the EYBL live stream," Smart said. "Started watching him and was like, man, this guy’s a real prospect. He’s got a real chance."

That started the ball moving in a fastbreak recruitment that landed Clark in Milwaukee a few days later on an official visit. He committed and signed a national letter of intent Friday before getting on a plane and heading back to Texas.

Shaka Smart typically has long recruiting process

This wasn't a typical recruitment for Smart and his staff. They usually like to build a relationship with a prospect and his inner circle over months, even years.

But the chance to add a 7-footer with good length and athletic skills at this late point in the 2024 recruiting cycle clearly piqued Smart's interest and he immediately reached out to Clark.

“He seemed really genuine," Clark said. "He was ready to get me out there as soon as possible. He seemed excited about me.”

Clark heard enough to come to Milwaukee on Thursday for an official visit.

"As a staff, we have a process that we follow to gather information and intel about kids," Smart said. "We started going about that process and learned more about him. The more we learned about him, the more we decided we were about him."

It helped that Smart knew Clements High School coach Van Price because Smart coached one of Price's former players, Jase Febres, at the University of Texas.

Clark passed all of MU's requisite background checks.

"Great kid from an awesome family," Smart said. "Awesome family background. Both of his parents are in the military, in the Navy. His high school team went 33-1 this year, a very good team in the Houston area."

Josh Clark will redshirt his first season at Marquette

Clark felt so good about his official visit that he committed on the spot.

"First thing when we got there, we ate," Clark said. "Then we did like a facility tour. I got to meet some of the players. Did a little shootaround, just shooting at the practice court. I really just got to meet a lot of people, the coaches and everybody.

"Then on Friday, we toured Fiserv Forum, where they play at. We toured that, then we met some of the teachers and stuff. Toured the dorms. A campus tour, really. Then we did a photoshoot."

Clark appreciated how Smart runs an old-school, developmental program.

"I liked what he was saying," Clark said. "He was just honest right away. He said he wanted to redshirt me and build me stronger.

"He also mentioned that they had no players enter into the transfer portal. No losing guys in the transfer portal and they don’t take anybody out of the transfer portal. That really meant something to me when he said that. Especially in this day and age. That’s the main thing everybody’s doing."

Clark and his family agreed that taking a redshirt season would benefit him. Clark is very thin, listed at 215 pounds, and he doesn't turn 18 until August.

"I’m still 17, I’m a younger player," Clark said. "I could be a junior in high school right now.

"But I feel, like, let my body develop a little more for a year. It will for sure help me get ready for college. Instead of just wasting a year, I’d be better off redshirting and getting stronger, be able to compete with those guys."

Clark has mentors like T.J. Ford, Hakeem Olajuwon and an Olympic triple jumper

Clark grew up in Virginia, and his family moved to the Houston area in his sophomore year of high school.

In Texas, Clark found some bold-faced names to assist him as a basketball player, including former Milwaukee Bucks player T.J. Ford.

"We have a good relationship," Clark said. "He teaches me a lot of the shooting side of the game and guard work and everything like that.

"Him and his brother, they do a lot for me. Let me get shots up in the gym and stuff like that. But most of my game, I would say, came from Hakeem. Him being a mentor, basically, my whole high school career."

Yes, Hakeem ... as in Hakeem Olajuwon, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer who has become a Yoda-like figure to basketball big men. Two of Olajuwon's sons played with Clark at Clements High School.

"It’s really a blessing," Clark said. "Because I would say he’s the best to ever play the center position, in my opinion. A lot of people say the same.

"He tells you everything you need to know. He keeps it really simple, in my opinion. Just anticipate how to block shots. Anticipate on rebounds. And just be the police in the paint, control everything around you. Just tells me I’m the key to the game, the point guard can’t do everything. The defensive side of the game as well. He taught me a lot."

Smart talked with Olajuwon when digging into Clark's background.

"He was really high on Josh," Smart said.

Clark got connected with Olajuwon through Frank Rutherford, a former Olympic triple jumper who became the first athlete from the Bahamas to win a medal when he took bronze in the 1992 Games. Rutherford helps young athletes in the Houston area.

“Frank does a lot for me," Clark said. "Him and Hakeem, they’re always together and stuff.

"But Frank, he took me under his wing, and did a lot. He started me off playing with Dream Elite, which is Hakeem’s AAU team. Then he put me on the Houston Defenders, which is the UA circuit. This year, he had me on LivOn, which is a EYBL team. Frank Rutherford, he tells you everything you need to know. He keeps it real with you. You might not like it at times, but he’s the real deal."

Josh Clark, Al Amadou and Caiden Hamilton are developmental big men

Clark won a defensive player of the year award in Texas after averaging 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game as a senior.

He definitely profiles as the type of mobile big man that Smart likes. Clark joins Al Amadou and Caiden Hamilton as developmental big men for MU. The Golden Eagles are also adding Royce Parham and Damarius Owens in the 2024 class.

"(Smart) said he watched my film and liked my size and athleticism," Clark said. "How I get around on the court. He just said he sees a lot of potential in me. And in a year, getting stronger, I could be something very good. I’m on an upward trajectory is what he said. I believe that as well."

Clark will be back in Milwaukee on May 26 when the MU team reconvenes to start summer workouts. He's ready to get to work.

"Just getting to know my teammates and working out with them," he said. "I’m trying to get on the court, to be honest."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Shaka Smart and Marquette sign Josh Clark to 2024 recruiting class