Clara Strack: quiet confidence, big moves, and a bright future

Clara Strack doesn’t need to shout to make an impression. At 6-foot-5, the sophomore from Buffalo, New York, has built a basketball career on quiet confidence, hard work, and a knack for rising to the moment. “She doesn’t get flat. Nothing really shellshocks her,” coach Kenny Brooks once said, calling her “big smooth.” Brooks would leave Virginia Tech and join Kentucky, Strack would follow.

Strack’s journey from a high school star in Hamburg to collegiate super star has been as steady as her demeanor. She shattered records in high school, scoring 1,384 career points while averaging 24.4 points and 16.2 rebounds her senior year. Her dominance earned her New York’s Class A Player of the Year and a spot on Virginia Tech’s roster. There she patiently waited her turn to shine.

It was there, at Virginia Tech, where Strack’s poise became legendary. When All-American center Liz Kitley went down with a season-ending injury, Strack stepped in without hesitation and was more than ready. In the NCAA Tournament, she scored 17 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting performance against Marshall and followed it with an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double against Baylor. Brooks praised her ability to thrive under pressure, saying, “She is going to be a star.” Truthfully, she already was.

This season, when Strack followed Coach Brooks to Kentucky, she was once again ready, embracing a new challenge in Lexington. Her grandfather, Ron Strack, calls her decision “super,” crediting Brooks' sense of family for the move. “We never doubted her choice,” he said.

Strack has already made waves at Kentucky, just like she has everywhere she has been. Averaging 15.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 30.9 minutes per game, she’s become a centerpiece for the Wildcats. Her outlook? Limitless. “She believes there’s no ceiling for this team,” Ron shared, adding that Clara’s teamwork and camaraderie are contagious.

For her grandparents, Clara’s journey has been transformative. Once casual fans, they’re now devoted followers of women’s basketball, attending games and even diving into the WNBA. “Clara’s turned us into rabid fans,” Ron said proudly. He even recalled at one point Clara's focus was on the baseball diamond, lucky for Cats fans, and all basketball fans, that changed.

Clara Strack lets her game do all the talking and it is her game that speaks volumes on and off the court. And the Wildcats couldn’t be happier to have her.