BIO: Rotnei Clarke was born in Claremore, Oklahoma (USA) and played college basketball for the University of Arkansas and Butler University before beginning his professional career in Australia with the Wollongong Hawks. He can play both point guard and shooting guard, and is known for his three-point shooting ability.

During high school, Clarke’s sharp shooting and chase for the Oklahoma high-school scoring record attracted large crowds. During his senior year, he led Verdigris High School to the school’s first state title. He captured the state scoring record, finishing with more than 3,700 career points. Clarke was highly recruited out of high school, attracting more than 50 college scholarship offers. He selected the Arkansas Razorbacks, joining the team for the 2008/09 season.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Rotnei Clarke made his NBL debut with the Wollongong Hawks at 24 years of age. He scored 20 points in his first game.

In his rookie season, he was named the NBL’s Most Valuable Player.

He went on to play in Belgium and Germany before returning to the Hawks in 2016.

2016/17
After finishing third with a 17-11 record and falling 2-1 to Perth in the 2015/16 semifinals, Illawarra entered Rob Beveridge’s second season without reigning NBL MVP and Best Defensive Player Kevin Lisch (to Sydney), Kirk Penney (to New Zealand), Jarrad Weeks (to Cairns), Tyson Demos (year off) and Larry Davidson (mining). Beveridge retained Tim Coenraad, Cody Ellis, Oscar Forman, Rhys Martin, AJ Ogilvy and captain Kevin White, while Nick Kay (via Townsville) and Mitch Norton (via Townsville) signed two-year deals after the Crocodiles folded, with both choosing Illawarra despite larger offers following former Townsville coach Shawn Dennis’ recommendation to play under Beveridge. Marvelle Harris (via Fresno State) and Michael Holyfield (via Los Angeles D-Fenders) completed the rebuilt roster.

The former 2014 NBL MVP returned to the Hawks after spending the next two seasons playing in Belgium and Germany, signing a two-year deal after leaving Telekom Baskets Bonn.

Illawarra opened the season at WIN Entertainment Centre on October 7, where Clarke (23 points, 6 assists, and 1 steal) made five three-pointers as the Hawks defeated Adelaide 122-88, with Harris (21 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) and Holyfield (14 points and 6 rebounds) providing support, while Mitch Creek (24 points) was Adelaide’s leading scorer.

Clarke (17.3 points across 34 games) appeared in every one of Illawarra’s 28 regular-season games and all six Finals games, with no injury, illness, suspension or selection absence keeping him out. Despite the opening rout, the new-look Hawks fell to 1-5 and sat at the bottom of the ladder through the early rounds. He started the first 10 games before Beveridge moved him to the bench, where he averaged 19.3 points across his final 18 regular-season games after averaging 13.2 as a starter and led Illawarra in scoring as a reserve 11 times.

His best regular-season scoring performance came against Sydney at WIN Entertainment Centre on December 5, where Clarke (29 points and 1 steal) made six three-pointers, with Forman (18 points) and Kay (10 points and 9 rebounds) helping Illawarra cut into a 19-point deficit before the Kings held on 99-93 behind former Hawk Lisch (23 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals), ending Illawarra’s three-game winning streak after five wins from six.

Clarke’s match-winning impact off the bench came against ladder-leading Adelaide on January 28, when Clarke (25 points and 3 steals) made six three-pointers as Illawarra recovered from nine points down during the second half to win 95-92 at WIN Entertainment Centre. Harris (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Rhys Martin (12 points and 2 steals) provided support, while Daniel Johnson (22 points and 5 rebounds) led Adelaide as the Hawks collected their 13th win, remained second and ended the 36ers’ six-game winning streak.

Illawarra secured its Finals place in the regular-season finale against Brisbane on February 11, where Clarke (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) made eight of 13 shots as the Hawks won 106-79 at WIN Entertainment Centre, with Forman (26 points) making eight three-pointers and Ogilvy (22 points and 6 rebounds) controlling the interior, while Torrey Craig (30 points and 18 rebounds) led Brisbane. The victory completed a 15-13 regular season and left Illawarra fourth, one win clear of New Zealand.

Alongside Clarke, Ogilvy (11 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 34 games) was Illawarra’s leading rebounder and rim protector and was selected to the All-NBL First Team, while Harris (10.4 points across 32 games) was the Hawks’ other double-figure scorer. Kay (9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds across 34 games), Norton (8.2 points and 3 assists across 31 games), Coenraad (7.7 points across 34 games) and Forman (6.3 points across 34 games) provided the other major contributions. The move to the bench was rewarded when Clarke received the NBL Best Sixth Man award with 46 votes before collecting the Hawks’ MVP and Members MVP awards, while Norton was named Best Defensive Player, White (4.7 points across 34 games) received the Coach’s Award and Ogilvy was named Community Player.

Adelaide took Game 1 of the semifinals 93-78 at Titanium Security Arena, where Clarke (10 points and 5 rebounds) was restricted offensively, Coenraad (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) carried Illawarra’s scoring and Harris (10 points) also reached double figures, while Jerome Randle (26 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Nathan Sobey (16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the 36ers.

Game two moved to WIN Entertainment Centre, where Clarke (15 points) contributed from the bench as Norton (17 points and 3 assists) and Coenraad (17 points and 10 rebounds) led Illawarra to a 100-94 win, while Randle (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Johnson (17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led Adelaide. Norton’s 17 points were a season high and Coenraad recorded the second double-double of his career as the Hawks tied the series 1-1.

The deciding game returned to Adelaide, where Clarke (20 points) and Harris (17 points) led the scoring and Rhys Martin (13 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals) hit key shots as Illawarra won 106-98 despite Ogilvy (4 points and 5 rebounds) rolling his left ankle and leaving the game. Randle (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Sobey (22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) led Adelaide, but Illawarra’s bench produced 66 points and the Hawks survived a late comeback after leading by 21 to eliminate the top-seeded 36ers 2-1 and advance to their first Grand Final since 2010. “We came into a tough environment tonight and I’m just really proud of our guys,” Clarke said post-game.

Perth opened the Grand Final with an 89-77 win at Perth Arena, where Clarke (11 points and 6 assists) took only eight shots under the defensive pressure of Damian Martin (6 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals), while Ellis (12 points and 4 rebounds) and Coenraad (11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) were Illawarra’s other leading scorers. Casey Prather (22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals), Bryce Cotton (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Matthew Knight (18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led Perth, with Ogilvy (7 points and 6 rebounds) playing through his injured ankle and Harris unavailable after returning to the United States to be with his seriously ill father.

Game two moved to WIN Entertainment Centre, where Clarke (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Ogilvy (21 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks) were Illawarra’s only double-figure scorers, while Harris (0 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist) returned from the United States and played 12 minutes. Cotton (20 points and 3 steals), Prather (18 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Angus Brandt (15 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Perth, while Damian Martin (12 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) made four three-pointers as the Wildcats won 89-77 and moved ahead 2-0.

Clarke’s best game of the season came in Grand Final Game 3 at Perth Arena on March 5, where Clarke (30 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) made 9-of-16 shots, four three-pointers and all eight free throws, setting a Hawks Grand Final scoring record and a season high as Illawarra recovered from an early 17-point deficit. Ogilvy (11 points and 7 rebounds) battled through his ankle injury and Harris (8 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) started despite receiving news that his ill father had died the previous day, while Prather (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) supported Cotton (45 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), who made 12-of-17 shots, seven three-pointers and 14-of-15 free throws to set an NBL Grand Final scoring record. Cotton was named Grand Final MVP after Perth won 95-86 and completed the 3-0 sweep.

2017/18
Illawarra entered 2017/18 after finishing fourth with a 15-13 record and reaching the Grand Final, where Perth swept the Hawks in three games. Marvelle Harris (to Team Challenge ALS) and Michael Holyfield (to Beijing Dongfang) departed, while Demitrius Conger (via Antwerp Giants) and Delvon Johnson (via Södertälje Kings) joined a returning group led by former NBL MVP Rotnei Clarke, AJ Ogilvy, Nicholas Kay, Mitchell Norton, Tim Coenraad, Rhys Martin, Cody Ellis, Oscar Forman and Kevin White. Beveridge said of Conger, “I always said we needed a stud three-man, and I feel very confident that we’ve found him.”

The Hawks took up Clarke’s option for 2017/18, keeping the reigning NBL Best Sixth Man for the second season of his return to Illawarra.

Illawarra opened the season in Cairns on October 6, where Clarke (22 points, 2 rebounds, an assist, and a steal) came off the bench and made six three-pointers, while Ogilvy (22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and a block) and Conger (17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and a block) were the Hawks’ other leading performers, but Alex Loughton (19 points and 3 rebounds) helped Cairns hold on for an 88-87 win.

Clarke (18 points across 25 games) remained one of Illawarra’s primary scorers, finishing second on the team behind Conger. He received 65 votes in the NBL MVP count, finishing eighth on the published voting list.

After Illawarra lost its first three games, Clarke (26 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal) led the Hawks back from a 15-point first-quarter deficit against Brisbane at WIN Entertainment Centre on October 22, with Conger (21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal) and Ogilvy (15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks) helping Illawarra win 105-96, while Perrin Buford (26 points and 9 rebounds) led Brisbane. Tempers flared during the third quarter and Clarke later accepted an early guilty plea and a $375 fine for engaging in the melee.

Clarke’s best game of the season came against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on November 5, where he made five three-pointers and finished with 29 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and a block, including 14 points in the fourth quarter, as Illawarra defeated the Kings 93-83 for its third win. Kay (17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block) and Conger (10 points, 8 rebounds, a steal, and a block) provided support, while Perry Ellis (19 points and 10 rebounds) led Sydney. “He’s a former MVP of the league and we want the ball in Rotnei’s hands at crucial times,” Beveridge said.

With Conger serving a one-game suspension for striking Brad Newley during their November 16 game against Sydney and Ogilvy ruled out before tip-off with a groin injury, Clarke (24 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) scored 19 points in the first half against Melbourne at Hisense Arena on December 4. Ellis (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Kay (11 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) were Illawarra’s next best, while Prather (18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and a block) led United to a 91-73 win. “I thought Rotty was just outstanding in that first half,” Beveridge said.

Conger (19.7 points and 5.7 rebounds across 27 games) led Illawarra in scoring, finished second in MVP voting and earned All-NBL First Team honours, while Kay (11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 28 games), Ogilvy (9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 22 games), Norton (7.8 points across 19 games), Coenraad (6.9 points and 3 rebounds across 28 games), Ellis (6.7 points across 20 games) and Martin (5.9 points and 1.3 steals across 28 games) were the other main contributors. Johnson (4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds across 28 games) remained with the team throughout the season and Illawarra made no mid-season import change. White (2.8 points across 26 games) served as captain, while Forman (3.7 points across 26 games) played his final NBL season.

Clarke played Illawarra’s first 25 games before being a late omission against Adelaide on February 11 and did not return for the final two games against New Zealand and Melbourne. No specific injury or illness was reported for the three absences.

Clarke re-signed with Victoria Libertas Pesaro (to Pesaro) on February 20 for the remainder of the Italian season. Illawarra had closed its season two days earlier at Hisense Arena without Clarke, defeating minor premier Melbourne 94-84 to finish fifth with a 12-16 record and miss the postseason.

Rotnei Clarke played three seasons the Wollongong Hawks. This included the Wollongong Hawks. He averaged 18.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 89 NBL games.