Mitch Clarke (basketball)

Mitch Clarke
No. 4 – Reading Rockets
PositionPoint guard
LeagueEnglish National Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1999-11-26) 26 November 1999 (age 24)
NationalityAustralian
Listed height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Career information
High schoolScotch College
(Perth, Western Australia)
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017–2021Perry Lakes Hawks
2021–2023Perth Wildcats
2022Bendigo Braves
2023Perry Lakes Hawks
2023–presentReading Rockets
2024Bendigo Braves
Career highlights and awards

Mitchell Clarke (born 26 November 1999) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Reading Rockets of the English National Basketball League. He played five seasons with the Perry Lakes Hawks in the NBL1 West before joining the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) in 2021, where he spent two seasons with their extended squad. He played for the Bendigo Braves of the NBL1 South in 2022 before returning to the Hawks in 2023. After a season with the Reading Rockets of the English NBL, he re-joined Bendigo in 2024.

Early life

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Clarke attended Scotch College in Perth, Western Australia, where he competed in athletics, basketball and football.[1]

Basketball career

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Perry Lakes Hawks and Bendigo Braves

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In 2017, Clarke debuted in the State Basketball League (SBL) for the Perry Lakes Hawks. He averaged 2.89 points, 1.32 rebounds and 1.04 assists in 28 games in his first season.[2] In 2018, he helped the Hawks win the SBL championship.[3] He averaged 6.39 points, 2.18 rebounds and 2.42 assists in 33 games in his second season.[4] In 2019, he averaged 8.29 points, 3.82 rebounds and 2.89 assists in 28 games for the Hawks.[5] In 2020, he helped the Hawks reach the grand final of the West Coast Classic.[6] In 15 games, he averaged 10.87 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.13 assists per game.[7]

In the inaugural NBL1 West season in 2021, Clarke helped the Hawks win the championship.[8][9] In 25 games, he averaged 13.12 points, 4.48 rebounds and 4.16 assists per game.[10]

In 2022, Clarke joined the Bendigo Braves of the NBL1 South.[11] In 21 games, he averaged 10.95 points, 4.24 rebounds, 3.52 assists and 1.57 steals per game.[12]

Clarke returned to the Hawks for the 2023 NBL1 West season.[13][14] On 30 June 2023, he scored 40 points with seven 3-pointers in a 95–94 win over the Willetton Tigers.[15][16] In 23 games, he averaged 18.26 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.78 assists and 1.78 steals per game.[17]

Clarke returned to the Braves for the 2024 NBL1 South season.[18][19] In 13 games, he averaged 18.23 points, 3.77 rebounds, 5.23 assists and 1.38 steals per game.[20]

Perth Wildcats

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On 2 December 2021, Clarke signed with the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) as a development player for the 2021–22 season.[21][22] He had been part of the Wildcats' academy and pre-season training squads since 2018[21] and impressed during the 2021 NBL Blitz pre-season tournament.[23] He made his NBL debut on 5 December in the Wildcats' 90–67 win over the Cairns Taipans, playing the final two minutes of the game and recording one turnover.[24][25] He played four games for the Wildcats during the season.[26] He re-joined the Wildcats in 2022–23 as a training player.[14]

Reading Rockets

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In August 2023, Clarke signed with the Reading Rockets of the English National Basketball League for the 2023–24 season.[27] On 19 November 2023, he scored 31 points against the Essex Rebels.[28] He helped the team reach the playoff final, where they lost 87–84 to Hemel Storm despite Clarke's 16 points.[29][30] He was named to the NBL D1 All Conference British First Team[31] after averaging 15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.[32]

In August 2024, Clarke re-signed with the Rockets for the 2024–25 season.[33]

Personal life

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Clarke is the son of Kerry and Peter. His mother was a championship-winning assistant coach at the Perry Lakes Hawks.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Western suburbs schools trio win Pierre de Coubertin awards". PerthNow.com.au. Western Suburbs Weekly. 16 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Player statistics for Mitchell Clarke – 2017". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021.
  3. ^ "GUTSY HAWKS CLAIM FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE 2004". SBL.asn.au. 1 September 2018. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Player statistics for Mitchell Clarke – 2018". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Player statistics for Mitchell Clarke – 2019". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021.
  6. ^ "DEEP SENATORS TOO MUCH AS WARWICK WINS FIRST BANNER". SBL.asn.au. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Player statistics for Mitchell Clarke – 2020". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021.
  8. ^ "NBL1 West Men Grand Final - Perry Lakes Hawks vs Rockingham Flames". NBL1.com.au. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Hawks hold out brave Flames for inaugural NBL1 West crown". NBL1.com.au. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Mitch Clarke". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Wildcats NBL youngster signs with Braves". NBL1.com.au. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Mitch Clarke". NBL1.com.au. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  13. ^ "NBL1 West Player Announcement". facebook.com/perrylakeshawks. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Pike, Chris (22 June 2023). "Clarke back with Perry Lakes the complete package". authory.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Perry Lakes vs. Willetton - Full Game Stream". NBL1.com.au. 30 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023.
  16. ^ Pike, Chris (30 June 2023). "NBL1 West Recap | Friday Round 14". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 1 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Mitch Clarke – 2023 Stats". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  18. ^ Bourke, Adam (2 April 2024). "Opportunity knocks for new-look Bendigo Braves in NBL1 South". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 1 May 2024. Point guard Mitch Clarke will also return for another stint with the Braves once his play-off commitments with English club the Reading Rockets are completed.
  19. ^ Bourke, Adam (10 May 2024). "Mixed news for Bendigo Braves backcourt stars ahead of Frankston clash". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 19 August 2024. Clarke made a late arrival to Bendigo after an extended play-off run in England's national competition with the Reading Rockets.
  20. ^ "Mitch Clarke". NBL1.com.au. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  21. ^ a b "WA's Mitch Clarke signed as development player". Wildcats.com.au. 2 December 2021. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021.
  22. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (2 December 2021). "Perth Wildcats sign Perry Lakes Hawks star Mitch Clarke as Development Player on eve of NBL season". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  23. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (25 November 2021). "Perth Wildcats guard Mitch Clarke hoping to go from Perry Lakes Hawks to NBL contract". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Cotton explodes for 31 as Wildcats crush Taipans". Wildcats.com.au. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021. Sunday's game also saw the debuts of Ollie Hayes-Brown and Mitch Clarke.
  25. ^ "Wildcats vs Taipans". fibalivestats.com. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  26. ^ "Mitchell Clarke". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022.
  27. ^ "There's a new MC in Reading!". facebook.com/readingrocketsbasketball. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Rockets loss unbeaten streak". ReadingRockets.co.uk. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  29. ^ Neter, Sam (28 April 2024). "Hemel Storm defend NBL D1 Playoff title in thriller". Hoopsfix.com. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Rockets vs Storm". fibalivestats.com. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  31. ^ "Huge Congratulations to Mitch Clarke for his spot in the All Conference British First Team". facebook.com/readingrocketsbasketball. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  32. ^ "2023/24 NBL Awards week: NBL Division One". BasketballEngland.co.uk. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Our Aussie dynamo is back for more!". facebook.com/readingrocketsbasketball. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
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