Clutch creaking when letting out

I've got a creaking/popping noise that happens as I let the clutch out in any gear, cold, hot, running, turned off. Had a buddy let the clutch out and confirmed it was definitely coming from the area of the pressure plate or something inside the inspection window where the fork goes in. It happens when the clutch pedal is about 2/3s of the way out. The clutch seems to grab just fine.

I bought the car in December and it is supposed to have a new King Cobra clutch, but I don't know if the pressure plate is new or what.

Any ideas?

TIA

ttt...anybody?

Drove it today and it didn't make the sound for the first dozen shifts or so, then started back.