Vicky Graff Photo
Sometimes a little luck pays off in a big way in recruiting.
That’s what happened with Kentucky sophomore center Clara Strack. Kenny Brooks, then the head coach at Virginia Tech, was in Atlantic City to watch some of Strack’s AAU teammates play when he saw Strack.
“I asked an assistant coach who is the tall kid and was told she was a young kid,” said Brooks. “I was supposed to leave that day but I stayed the whole weekend to watch her (Strack) play.
“There were a couple of kids on her team who were McDonald’s All-Americans but I knew she would be the best. I knew she would be special.”
Strack played last season at Virginia Tech for Brooks before following him to Kentucky. The 6-5 sophomore was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year after blocking a SEC best 70 shots this season. She’s averaging 15.2 points and a team-best 9.7 rebounds per game going into Friday’s NCAA Tournament game in Memorial Coliseum against Liberty.
Strack is shooting 48.2 percent overall from the field and 78.4 percent at the foul line.
The numbers have not surprised Brooks.
“She immediately showed us she had the ‘it’ factor. The first practice (at Virginia Tech), she did not back down. We took a trip to Greece and the first game she had 20 points and 14 rebounds,” Brooks said. “It was just a matter of her learning how to play at this level and getting in shape.”
Brooks anticipated redshirting Strack the first season at Virginia Tech but she did not and even started NCAA Tournament games a year ago.
“I came here a little nervous about her because the thing she lacked last year was not playing long stretches,” Brooks said. “She got here and looked good and was eager and wanted to work out that day. She was better than I hoped she would be.”
Brooks and his assistant tried to focus on things to make Strack uncomfortable during summer workouts. They worked daily on ball handling. They put on football pads and “beat her up” in practice.
“We knew she could be great. She just wanted it,” Brooks said. “She continues to work as hard or harder than anybody I have ever had. I think she will continue to get better and better.”
Strack enjoys putting in the work with Brooks and his staff because she understands the benefits that come from the work.
“I put in the work with the team, obviously, and I think just the way that my teammates can put me in positions for things has also helped me. It’s just taking advantage of those things to make yourself better,” Strack said.
One advantage Strack knows Kentucky will have Friday, and again Sunday if it wins, is Big Blue Nation.
“They show up and they show out. Their presence has definitely been known, especially like in the Tennessee game. That was super fun, super exciting,” Strack said. “I think anywhere you can go in and create that atmosphere, I think that’s super exciting. It gives you such an advantage when you’re playing against these teams.”
2 Responses
I think she’s preseason All SEC first team and second team all American next year. We will be a very good point guard away from being great next year. Brooks will hit the portal and probably grab the best 2 point guards available and whoever is the better of the 2 will take Kentucky’s women’s basketball to new heights. Strack, Key, Hassett, and if Silva comes back we will be even better in the post next season probably unstoppable. I just hope Silva doesn’t transfer with such a deep front court. Strack has 2 more years of eligibility Key has another year of Eligibility and Hassett has another year possibly 2 more years because of juco ball. So we will be loaded with bigs for the next couple of years. We should also have better wings next year with Blue having a year under her belt and Obie being hurt all year getting a medical redshirt. If Obie would have been healthy this year we would have been even better. Those spells we had were it was hard for us to score would have never happened. I just hope they can make a nice run this year so they can improve even more on recruiting.
Struck is the best! And I really appreciate that she was able to make a national commercial with Brea, too.