Jhamar Clark Jr. has yet to play a down of high school football, but several prominent programs are already pursuing him. A recent conversation with his father revealed how far that interest now reaches beyond Nevada.
Basketball is where I spend most of my time. I rarely step into football coverage, but there are young athletes in Las Vegas who give me a reason to make an exception.
Jhamar Clark Jr. continues to be one of them.
At 14 years old, 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Clark is an eighth grader whose combination of size and agility stands out among the young athletes I have seen locally. The physical presence is immediately noticeable. What keeps my attention is watching him develop the ability that comes with it.
We have featured Clark before. In a recent conversation with his father, Jhamar Clark Sr., I learned more about the opportunities ahead—and how far beyond Nevada the family is looking as it considers his next step.
of the Clark Family
Interest Beyond Las Vegas
According to Clark Sr., St. Francis, IMG Academy, Bishop Gorman, St. John Bosco, Santa Margarita, and Mater Dei are recruiting his son.
The family visited Sierra Canyon in September and plans to visit IMG Academy in January, his father said. They are exploring opportunities to compete at a high level, including programs outside Nevada.
College attention is beginning to enter the picture as well. Clark Sr. reported upcoming game-day visits to Ole Miss and Florida, along with contact from Baylor and San Diego State.
Those are early developments in a middle school athlete’s journey. They provide a picture of the interest surrounding Clark while leaving the larger questions of his development and eventual destination open.
The names are significant. So is understanding what has made this young man worth following in the first place.
The Ability Behind the Size
Last April, according to his father, Clark ran the 100 meters in 12.3 seconds as a seventh grader, breaking the middle school record at Mater Academy East.
That reported performance adds another dimension to his physical profile. Size draws the eye, but the ability to move with it is what makes him particularly intriguing.
Clark is also a talented basketball player with good agility for his frame. That matters to me as someone whose primary work is in basketball. Watching a young athlete in another sport can offer a fuller understanding of his coordination, movement, and developing ability.
I am careful about the words used to describe children with unusual physical gifts. I refrain from calling a young man a “specimen.” Clark is a child blessed with God-given attributes, putting in consistent work to develop them.
His physical advantages are evident. The effort to turn those advantages into lasting skills is the part of his story I want to continue documenting.
In that combination of size and athletic ability, he reminds me of former Desert Pines standout Darnell Washington, who went on to the NFL. That resemblance is a physical reference point. Clark’s development will take its own course.
A Wider Stage Ahead
According to Clark Sr., his son will play in the Jr. UA Next All-American Game and the Jr. Army All-American Game.
Those opportunities will bring him into additional settings alongside talented young players from beyond Las Vegas. For an athlete receiving this level of early attention, each new environment offers more to learn and another opportunity to show how his game is progressing.
of the Clark Family
That is what makes following a player over time valuable. An introduction captures where he is at one moment. Returning to the story allows us to examine what has changed.
With Clark, the next chapter includes campus visits, national showcase opportunities, and a family weighing where he can continue to grow. The attention is expanding while the work of becoming a more complete player continues.
He remains one of the more intriguing young athletes I have seen in Las Vegas in recent years. His size, agility, and multisport ability are reasons to pay attention. His progress will determine what comes next.
I am a basketball man, but I make exceptions for young talent in this city. Clark has given me a reason to keep watching—and Unit 1 Hoop Source will continue following his journey.
Reporting note: Recruiting interest, campus visits, college contacts, All-American game participation, and the track performance described in this article were provided by Jhamar Clark Sr. Evaluative observations are those of the author. Unit 1 Hoop Source does not rank players.
© 2026 Kim Muhammad | Unit 1 Hoop Source. All rights reserved.