TERRENCE CLARKE

Earlier this year, the basketball guard was preparing for the NBA draft after completing his freshman year at the University of Kentucky. He had signed to an agency associated with LeBron James.

John Calipari is awaiting a pivotal ruling on the eligibility of transfers before he will know who’ll be around to help the Wildcats bounce back from the coach's first losing season in Lexington.

The death of former Kentucky guard Terrence Clarke following a car accident in Los Angeles sparked an outpouring of grief and support from around basketball, including reaction from Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.

Clarke was killed after running a red light and striking another vehicle, Los Angeles police told CBS News.

Kentucky says freshman guard Terrence Clarke died following a car accident in Los Angeles.

But things began spiraling downward for the Wildcats long before Thursday's disappointing 74-73 setback against Mississippi State that sealed their fate: No NCAA Tournament this year. AdDigesting the reality and enduring a losing season at college basketball's winningest program will make for a long offseason for the Wildcats. “But at the end of the day, you've gotta win games and you've gotta be tough and you've got to play winning basketball. The Wildcats rebounded to win their first three SEC games, only to seesaw between a four-game skid and three-game winning streak. One of the main issues for the Wildcats was putting up points, as Kentucky ranked 200th in Division I in scoring.

North Carolina won 75-63. 22 North Carolina from a double-digit deficit to beat Kentucky 75-63 at the CBS Sports Classic. BIG PICTURENorth Carolina: The Tar Heels are 0-2 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25, losing 69-67 to No. ... North Carolina has completed its nonleague schedule and will play its next 20 games in the Atlantic Coast Conference. UP NEXTNorth Carolina: Plays at North Carolina State in its ACC opener Dec. 22.

Moses Wright scored 21 points and Georgia Tech recovered from a poor start to the season to beat No. Georgia Tech (1-2) rebounded with a strong performance following losses to state rivals Georgia State and Mercer. BIG PICTUREEven by Kentucky standards, this is a major rebuilding job and the Wildcats' youth showed against Georgia Tech. It was a key recovery for coach Josh Pastner's Georgia Tech team. Georgia Tech: At Nebraska on Wednesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

(AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)Many of the nation’s brightest prospects in the most recent recruiting class didn’t necessarily select the most obvious schools. In the meantime, four of the top seven players chose Oklahoma State, Southern California, Stanford and Florida State. Jerry Meyer, the director of basketball scouting at 247Sports, says he noticed this trend starting in 2015. Barnes is ranked seventh in the 247Sports Composite and played high school basketball at Montverde (Florida) Academy. He was named the California male athlete of the year and the California basketball player of the year by USA Today.