Athlete of the Week: Brody Clarke

Program: Engineering 2
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Team: Basketball

When did you start playing basketball?

I started playing when I was 5 or so, I was really young when my parents got me into it. I’ve loved it ever since.

What about basketball has made you want to play it for so many years?

I really enjoy the competition. I don’t know how to explain it — like when you win, you get so satisfied about it, but when you lose you get so… It’s something you can get so passionate about without even realizing that you’re being passionate about it. I honestly can’t see myself not doing it. I have no idea what I’d do if I wasn’t playing basketball.

What is playing on the U of A’s team like?

This is the highest level I’ve ever played at. So it’s a lot more structured, a lot more demanding. You have to go to the weight room a certain amount of times a week to make sure you’re in playing shape. It’s hard to balance it with school sometimes.

What’s your favourite warmup music?

I’m one of the weird people who doesn’t have warmup music. I don’t like listening to music that much before games. I’ll enjoy whatever is on, but I don’t have a favourite and I don’t get in the zone by listening to it.

How do you get into the zone?

I try and see myself making plays and visualizing the game. Sort of try to calm myself down and get the nerves out.

Have you ever seen Space Jam?

Love it.

What’s your favourite part?

Oh, the dunk at the end. When I was younger I used to always pretend I could stretch my arm like with little Fischer Price nets.

What’s something tall people want short people to know?

The air is no different up here then it is down there. I don’t mind getting asked “How tall are you?” but I know that there are some people where it bothers them. So maybe just don’t ask at all.

What game are you looking forward to this year?

I’m really looking forward to when we play Calgary. We go down there for one of a rivalry series where we’ll play them once there, and they’ll play us once here. We have four season games before that which are really important, but the Calgary game is going to be a lot of fun.