Clark Kellogg

Clark "Special K" Kellogg grew up in East Cleveland, Ohio, attended Chambers Elementary, W.H. Kirk Middle School (both in East Cleveland), and St. Joseph High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and had a high school basketball career generally regarded as one of the finest in Cleveland history. The highlight was a 74–65 loss in the 1979 state championship game to Columbus East that saw Kellogg score 51 points and grab 24 rebounds.^[1] His 51-point game is still an Ohio high school state finals record. Kellogg also played in the McDonald's All-American and Capital Classic games.

From 1979 to 1982, Kellogg played for Ohio State University, where he earned All-Big Ten Conference and Most Valuable Player honors; in 1996, he received his marketing degree. In June 2010, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland appointed Kellogg to the university's board of trustees, where he served until 2019.^[2]

In 1982, Kellogg declared for the NBA draft after his junior year of college and was a 1st-round draft pick (8th overall) of the Indiana Pacers. In his first season, he was selected as a member of the NBA All-Rookie Team. He is one of only a handful of rookies in NBA history to average 20 points and 10 rebounds a game, having averaged 20.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Kellogg came in second place in NBA Rookie of the Year voting, losing to Terry Cummings, who is also one of the only four players to average 20 points and 10 rebounds in a rookie season and not make the Basketball Hall of Fame.^[3] Following his rookie year success, Kellogg was much heralded as the next breakout NBA superstar. Converse signed him to an endorsement deal, to release his own Converse "Special K" sneaker. However, he only played three full seasons, and portions of two others for the Pacers before chronic knee problems forced him to retire. During his three full seasons with Indiana, they went a combined 68–178.

Kellogg married his wife Rosy, in 1983. They have two sons, Clark (Alex) and Nick, and a daughter, Talisa. Alex played basketball for Providence College and Ohio University. Nick played basketball for Ohio University^[4] and Talisa played Division I volleyball at Georgia Tech.

Kellogg became a Christian in 1985 after questioning his "purpose in life."^[5] Kellogg has spoken about his faith saying, "...my faith remains my foundation. Christ is my all and the driver of my life."^[6]