Brooks Adjusts Expectations for Kentucky Sophomore Clara Strack
Sophomore forward Clara Strack has shown flashes of brilliance for Kentucky this season, delivering standout performances that have highlighted her immense potential. In a 76-53 victory over Illinois, Strack dominated with 25 points on 12-of-18 shooting and 15 rebounds. She followed that with another stellar outing against Arizona State, contributing 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting and 10 rebounds in a 77-61 win.
However, her consistency remains a work in progress. In Kentucky’s 72-53 loss to North Carolina, Strack struggled, shooting just 2-of-10 from the field for four points and pulling down only four rebounds. The disappointing outing highlighted the challenges of transitioning into a larger role, something Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks is beginning to reconsider.
“She had a rough game, and she felt really bad about it,” Brooks said following Kentucky’s dominant 87-45 win over Queens earlier this week. In that game, Strack bounced back, delivering 16 points, six rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and two assists in just 26 minutes.
Brooks, reflecting on Strack’s development, revealed that he sought advice from Elizabeth Kitley, a former All-American center at Virginia Tech whom Brooks coached during his tenure there. Kitley told Brooks that she didn’t feel fully responsible for her team’s success until her junior year—despite being named ACC Player of the Year as a sophomore.
“That really put things into perspective for me,” Brooks said. “Clara didn’t play as a starter last year, and now we’ve thrust her into this dominant role, expecting her to carry the team. She just turned 19 last week—she’s essentially still supposed to be a freshman.”
The conversation with Kitley led Brooks to rethink his approach to Strack’s role on the team.
“I need to gradually give her that responsibility instead of expecting her to shoulder the entire burden,” Brooks explained. “Her performance shouldn’t dictate our success as a team. She needs to be part of our overall effort, not the sole determinant.”
Brooks admitted that Strack was “terrible” in practice the day after the North Carolina loss, as she pushed herself to correct her mistakes too quickly.
“She wanted to fix everything in one day,” Brooks said. “But this game against Queens was a good bounce-back moment for her. It showed her resilience and ability to recover.”
Strack’s journey as a young player thrust into a significant role is a learning process not just for her but also for the team and coaching staff. As Brooks shifts his expectations and gradually introduces more responsibility, the hope is that Strack will continue to develop into the consistent, dominant player Kentucky needs—without the pressure of carrying the team on her shoulders too soon.
