When a team loses one of its best two-way players, chaos typically ensues.
Senior Skyy Clark went down with a hamstring injury in the second half of UCLA’s 74-61 loss to Iowa on Jan. 3.
And the guard has yet to return, missing the last seven games.
After losing three out of five to start 2026, it looked like Clark’s absence could be the nail in the coffin for the Bruins’ campaign. Prior to his injury. Clark averaged 13.5 points per game on a 48.6% 3-point percentage while also being consistently touted as the squad’s best man-to-man defender.
But most squads do not have a former McDonald’s All-American waiting in the wings.
Sophomore guard Trent Perry’s replacement of Clark has been seamless over the last seven games. He averaged 15.6 points per game on a 40.6% clip from beyond the arc.
And while it is difficult to emulate Clark’s defensive tenacity, Perry has done anything but shy away from the challenge.
Central to Perry’s and the squad’s defensive improvement has been communication, and talking on the defensive end is a quality he brought to Westwood.
“Well, if you want smart guys, you try to recruit them, so I’m not aware if you know. Trent didn’t go to Harvard-Westlake as a basketball recruit – he went as a student and became a basketball player, so smart guys talk out there,” said coach Mick Cronin.
Perry’s emergence has been something many have been anticipating.
The former four-star recruit out of high school played just 11.4 minutes per game in his true freshman season, but has averaged 26.6 minutes per game while making nine starts during his sophomore campaign.
And an increase in minutes has bred an increase in production.
“I’m just learning. I learned a lot freshman year, and I’m glad I’m able to take it this year – it’s very humbling experience freshman year to go from, senior year high school, playing, to not playing, and now, this year getting out there and getting ready, so this year has been a lot of fun,” Perry said. “I’m glad we’re winning, and we just want to keep doing that.”
The West Covina, California, local garnered a career-high 30 points in UCLA’s victory over Penn State on Jan. 14 and knocked down three integral 3-pointers – en route to 11 points – in the Bruins’ upset over the then-No. 4 Boilermakers on Jan. 20.
However, it was 18 points on 50% shooting from the field that garnered outside praise.
“I’m a big fan of Perry. I think he does a lot of good things quietly. You know, a lot of those other guys get a lot of attention, and rightfully so, but I thought he was a huge part of why they won today,” said Northwestern coach Chris Collins after UCLA’s 71-64 victory on Jan. 24. “Just his physicality. He made two big free throws late. Made some big shots at the end of clocks. Gives him a good secondary ball handler to help with Donovan (senior guard Donovan Dent).”
But while Perry has surged, Clark’s return has become imminent and could become official Saturday against Indiana.
Clark’s reentrance to action will mostly be looked at as a positive, but how will it affect the starting lineup, the rotations and, consequently, the amount of minutes and touches that Perry gets?
While it will take time for Clark to ease back into what he was prior to the injury, the senior guard will most likely return to the starting five and a heavy load of minutes.
So what happens to Perry?
Cronin said he is committed to running a three-guard lineup.
“I gave you this answer this right before he (Clark) got hurt – you’ve got to find a way to get your best players on the floor; it gives you the best chance to win,” Cronin said Friday.
The Bruins head honcho then proceeded to acknowledge that Perry is one of the team’s best players, but he can’t be if he doesn’t get rest – a nod to the urgency of getting Clark back.
There is no doubt that the return of Clark is imminent and that it will have an effect on how the Bruins look and play. But it is too unclear whether Clark will impede on Perry’s growth, improvement and performance as one of their premier ball handlers.
Nevertheless, Perry said he will remain vigilant.
“I’m pretty resilient. A lot of people thought I wouldn’t be able to take this jump from freshman year to sophomore year, especially, not playing a lot to now starting with one guy out, so people can see that I’m very resilient,” Perry said. “I’m able to bring anything to the team whenever the situation is.”
On the surface, having Dent, Clark and Perry all at full strength gives the Bruins one of the most formidable backcourts in the nation. But there is no telling what Clark’s return will have on Perry’s confidence and his ability to contribute like he has over the past seven games.
Regardless of Clark’s return, Perry’s mission remains clear.
“I mean, [I’m] just [going to] keep doing what I’m doing, whether he’s (Clark is) back or not,” Perry said. “[I’m] just [going to] keep doing what I’m doing, being aggressive, staying confident and providing everything I can for the team to win.”
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