Missouri’s Wes Clark hopes off-court changes spur on-court success

First-year Missouri coach Kim Anderson initially wasn’t sure what to make of point guard Wes Clark.

Clark averaged 4.1 points and 2.2 rebounds as a freshman last season. He showed flashes of the talent that led Rivals to dub him a four-star recruit, the No. 14 point guard in the nation and No. 72 player overall in the 2013 recruiting class.

Along with Jordan Clarkson, Clark was one of two Missouri players who finished the season with more assists (70) than turnovers (53).

It was an at-times rocky ride, too.

Clark, a graduate of Romulus High School in suburban Detroit, struggled with his shot. He shot only 35.9 percent from the field, 36.8 from three-point range and 63.3 percent from the free-throw stripe.

There also was Clark’s March 15 arrest for suspicion of marijuana possession along with former teammate Shane Rector and two Missouri football players.

“I’ve made the best of it, and I’m a new Wes,” Clark said.

Clark doesn’t shy away from admitting to missteps last season, but he’s determined to turn things around — on and off the court — in 2014-15.

“I was just young and didn’t really know or understand the college life,” he said. “I didn’t really understand what I was really here for, but I understand my purpose now and what I’m here to do to make it to the next level.”

Clark had a daughter, Cobi Caidence, in late April and said becoming a father forced him to mature.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “It brought a different type of focus for me and put me under a different type of pressure. It’s more like an I’m-going-for-everybody thing now. It’s not just me being selfish or however I was last year. I’m working for more than myself.”

That has to be music to Anderson’s ears, especially given his undying affinity for floor generals.

Unfamiliarity fueled Anderson’s uncertainty upon taking over the program, but Clark has won him over through summer workouts and has become a trusted piece in the evolving puzzle as the Tigers begin practice this week.

“From the time I came in here until today, I’ve really done a 180 on Wes Clark,” Anderson said. “He has really done some good things on the basketball floor. … He’s a guy who works hard defensively (and) he’s a guy who’s shooting the ball pretty well.”

Clark has embraced being taken under Anderson’s wing.

“Me and coach talk every day — night and day, most of the day and all through the day,” Clark said. “He’s just shown a lot of confidence in me and it gives me confidence in myself. It’s good to know that he’s behind me and supporting me.”

It also makes Clark determined to be a better teammate and leader.

“I just try to bring energy and keep our guys on the same page,” Clark said. “I try to have everybody on a winning mindset. That’s the main focus I have. … I’m a lot more mature. I made some changes, got over some humps and made it past some obstacles that I had to get past.”

This story was originally published October 8, 2014 at 6:26 PM with the headline "Missouri’s Wes Clark hopes off-court changes spur on-court success."