Barry Clemens, Class of 2009
May 1, 1943 - October 26, 2026
The Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame mourns the passing of Barry Clemens, who died October 26, 2026, at the age of 83, surrounded by his loving family.
Barry grew up on his family's 200-acre farm outside Xenia, Ohio, where the pre-Civil War farmhouse came with barn chores, hay baling - and, in time, a full-sized basketball court his father built so Barry no longer had to shoot at a rim nailed to the barn door. A stone's throw from Wilberforce and Central State, that court made the Clemens farm a gathering place for some of the fiercest pickup games in the county.
At Xenia High School, Barry was a three-sport athlete who led the basketball team to a 64-5 record over three seasons as a starter. At Ohio Wesleyan, he became the all-time leading scorer in both OWU and Ohio Athletic Conference history, records that stood well after the introduction of the three-point shot.
Drafted 19th overall by the New York Knicks in 1965, Barry played 11 seasons in the NBA - with the Knicks, the expansion Chicago Bulls, the Seattle SuperSonics, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Portland Trail Blazers. His final season was marred by serious illness, yet he fought back and contributed in the second half of his 11th year. The Cavaliers honored him at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in December 2019.
After basketball, Barry returned to Cleveland and built a second career as a financial advisor, beloved by clients who became friends. He was a dedicated youth coach and camp director, a lifelong competitor on tennis courts and in YMCA leagues, and a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
Barry is survived by his wife of 59 years, Vivian Williams Clemens; his children Justin, Jennifer, and Matthew; nine grandchildren; and his brother William. His celebration of life will be held Tuesday, November 24, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Bourbon Street Barrel Room in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.
We extend our deepest sympathies to the entire Clemens family.
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