Photo Credit: Virginia Tech Athletics
The transfer portal can be a cruel mistress at times especially with Kentucky when it was announced that Kyra Elzy was relieved of her coaching duties. However, it can be the exact opposite and develop your roster as well.
It was thought that when Kenny Brooks accepted the coaching position at Kentucky that there would be some of his Virginia Tech players follow suit and that has been the case. First it was Georgia Amoore. Now it is Clara Strack following in Brooks' footsteps.
Kentucky hit a home run in this transfer as the 6'5" center of Buffalo, New York showed glimpses of greatness in her freshman season with Virginia Tech. Strack played in all thirty-three games for the Hokies this season and averaged almost 14 minutes a game in playing time. She also averaged 4.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game in her freshman season. On top of all of that, Clara shot at a very high percentage as she finished at 56% from the field and over 66% from beyond the arc.
These statistics may not give the full story of how good of a freshman season Strack had. Kenny Brooks noticed her development throughout the year and it earned her the right to start in the first two rounds of the women's NCAA Tournament. The first round was against Marshall where Clara racked up 17 points and went a perfect 7-for-7 from the field. She continued this performance into the Round of 32 in the disappointing loss that came to Baylor. In that game she would total in 18 points and 10 rebounds en route to a double-double kind of night.
Clara Strack appears to have a very high basketball IQ and she can easily space the floor as she can knock down shots from outside, not limiting herself to just an inside scoring threat. In my opinion, she will likely be a day one starter for coach Kenny Brooks and rightfully so as she has earned that with her impeccable play at Virginia Tech.
This makes the second transfer from Virginia Tech to Kentucky and third overall for the evening, with more to soon follow.