King McClure

King McClure is a former Baylor Basketball star who is carving a new career for himself as a basketball analyst and podcaster. During the 2019-20 season McClure served as an ESPN college basketball analyst, and Baylor broadcaster John Morris hailed him as a natural analyst thanks to his deep, resonant voice and in-depth knowledge of the game.

Born in Dallas, Texas, McClure was a top 40 national high school recruit with realistic ambitions of becoming an NBA player, and saw the Baylor basketball program as his ticket to achieve his dreams. But before he began to play at Baylor in 2015, the young sportsman was told by doctors he would likely never be able to become an NBA player due to a pre-existing heart condition. In 2015 Baylor underwent surgery to help his heart function normally, but also began to re-evaluate his career options.

McClure had already considered a potential career as a basketball analyst when Holly Rowe, an ESPN sideline reporter allowed him to shadow her as she covered a Baylor-Connecticut women’s basketball game. McClure loved the experience and began to sharpen his analyst skills by practising mock broadcasts, and was supported in his career change by both Rowe and his Baylor coach Scott Drew.

Since signing with ESPN, McClure has also honed his skills through his own podcast “King’s Court”, where he interviews players, fellow analysts and coaches.