October 16, 2014 at 9:47 am CDTExpandCeola Clark, a star at Warren Township High School years ago, also played for Western Illinois University. He is now in Slovenia. (Photo provided)
GURNEE – The official mileage from Gurnee to Sentjur, Slovenia is just under 5,000miles. However, unless you had some relatives there, why else would an American venture that far from home?
Former Warren basketball star Ceola Clark is now a Sentjur resident – and he likes it.
"Slovenia is a great place,'' Clark said. "It reminds me a lot of Western Illinois. Most people here speak English."
Clark said he will call Slovenia home for the next year.
It's important to check his previous medical report for answers. Clark had two anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in college, as well as a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear, two torn meniscus (knee ligaments) injuries, and a broken toe.
Yes, Clark wanted to play basketball again, which explains his journey. Clark played basketball at Warren High School where coaches remember him as a genuine star.
"It's no secret he was one of, if not the best, basketball player Warren ever had,'' longtime assistant coach Rick Pearce said. "Completely unselfish, he always put the team first, and made everyone play better. You had to be on your toes ... His no-look pass was a thing of beauty."
During those special years at Warren (2003-07 ), the names of Ceola Clark, Marvin Bembry, Shannon Adams, Logan Derrick, Marcus Lewis, Mitchell Moore and Jordan Dalton were household names in Lake County."My career at Warren was some of the best four years of my life,'' Clark said. "The bond I shared not only with the players, but with the basketball and non-basketball staff was unbelievable."
Clark said he has memories he will never forget.
"It was a smooth process for me due to so many great teammates," Clark added.
Dalton, now a resident of South Dakota, was one of the first friends that Clark met.
Dalton said being Clark's teammate was "honestly one of the best experiences" he's had.
"From the moment I met him (Clark), when he was a freshman, it became an instant brotherhood," Dalton said. "He is one of the most genuine and caring people I have ever had the chance to know."
The group of players called themselves the "Fab Five."
"That experience was the closest-knit team I have ever been a part of," Clark said. "On the court, we continuously pushed each other to be great. We were never satisfied with just being a decent team. We all wanted to leave a legacy of greatness behind."
Clark said off the court, the teammates formed a lifelong bond of brotherhood.
"To this day, when we get together, it seems like we are back at WTHS in 2006," Clark said.
The name Derrick Rose also comes up in Clark's story. Yes, the Chicago Bulls star. Clark also played ball in Chicago at Simeon High School.
Clark played against Simeon during his senior year (2006-07) on what he called the "big stage," against Rose, in "one of the most respected Christmas tournments at that time," Clark said.
"I had been playing against Derrick Rose since the eighth grade and we had always battled one another," Clark said.
Clark said he played some of his best basketball at the tournament, "filling up the stat sheet with 18 points, six assists, seven rebounds and a few steals."
"Our best defender, Shannon Adams, did a great job on Rose, shutting him down to 10points in the first half and zero in the second," Clark said. "We fought and to this day, Derrick Rose and his teammates have always said we were the only team they felt could have stopped them from winning a state title."
Dalton said he is glad to see Clark back on his feet.
"I am so proud of Ceola for chasing his dream of playing professional ball,'' Dalton said. "He has overcome so many setbacks and has kept a positive attitude and solid work ethic the entire way.
Former coach Rick Pearce, too, found much to like about this player.
'"Ceola wasn't the most athletic player I ever had the privilege to coach,'' Pearce said. "But simply put, he was the best."
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network