A former Oregon basketball recruit is suing the University of Oregon, Dana Altman and four other basketball staff members for personal injury damages after he tore his ACL while working out for the Oregon coaches in October 2015.
Crisshawn Clark, now a University of Portland basketball player, is seeking compensation for pain and suffering along with damages for the loss of future income, which he estimates will be over $100,000.
Clark is suing “In Pro Se,” meaning he does not have an attorney representing him.
Former Oregon basketball recruit Crisshawn Clark. (Courtesy of University of Pittsburgh)
According to the lawsuit, Clark took an official paid recruiting visit to Oregon beginning Oct. 16, 2015. At the time Clark was playing junior college basketball for Canada College in California. Oregon offered him a full athletic scholarship a few days before the visit.
Clark reportedly participated in a basketball workout with Oregon assistant coach Mike Mennenga during the visit. He injured his knee during the workout, was treated by an Oregon trainer who indicated the injury was serious, and a few days later an MRI confirmed he had a torn ACL. He would later accept a scholarship offer from University of Pittsburgh, where he spent the last year rehabbing before he transferred to Portland.
Clark is not seeking money for medical expenses – the lawsuit states that his medical expenses were paid by or on behalf of UO.
The lawsuit alleges that Oregon violated an NCAA rule which prohibits on-campus evaluations of prospective student athletes who are currently playing for a junior college. UO self-reported the violation in October 2015, according to athletic department spokesman Jimmy Stanton. The NCAA classified it as a level 3 (least severe) violation and closed the matter.
Clark confirmed that he is currently legally representing himself but declined to answer other questions when reached by phone.
Assistant coaches Kevin Mckenna and Tony Stubblefield, along with director of basketball operations Josh Jamieson, are being sued in addition to Altman and Mennenga.
The full legal complaint can be read here.
Follow Jack Pitcher on Twitter @jackpitcher20 .
