The Gonzaga Bulldogs seem poised to make another NCAA Tournament run. Mark Few probably has one of the most well-rounded and talented teams in his program’s history. Similar to the 2016-2017 roster that lost in the National Championship game, this roster has a plethora of frontcourt depth. Killian Tillie and Rui Hachimura are legitimate NBA prospects, while freshman Filip Petrusev and Corey Kispert have provided valuable minutes off of the bench. However, Brandon Clarke is the key for Gonzaga. The 6’8 San Jose State transfer from Vancouver, Canada has given this team an infusion of defense and toughness while also providing secondary scoring for a team already loaded with talented offensive players.
Brandon Clarke is the Key for Gonzaga
Defensive Ability
Clarke is arguably the best overall defender in college basketball. He is one of the rare players who is truly able to guard all five positions. Standing at 6’8, Clarke has a solid wingspan that is over 7-feet and terrific leaping ability. A fast-twitch athlete, Clarke is able to switch any pick-and-roll or stop the ball handler in transition to thwart a fast-break. In the pick and roll, Clarke is able to play a variety of defenses. Because of his length and quickness, Clarke can either hedge, disrupting the ball handler and recover back to his man or switch and play the ball handler one-on-one. This is a skill that will serve Clarke well at the next level as NBA offenses are built primarily around the pick-and-roll.
An elite rim protector, Clarke is a fast-twitch athlete who is one of the best rim protectors in the country. Per sports-reference Clarke is averaging an impressive 3 blocks per game and is constantly disrupting opponents at the rim. His blocks come both as a primary defender and help defender. He shows good timing, moving over to help at the rim, high-pointing the ball and not leaving his feet until the last second. Clark has created his own highlight reel of impressive displays of athleticism.
https://twitter.com/RPotkey/status/1071877153002844160
Offensive Versatility
Clarke is having a terrific year offensively. He is averaging 16.5 points per game while shooting 68 percent from the field and is the second leading scorer on the team. Although he scored more his last season at San Jose State, he was the first option and took 3 shots per game more than he is this season. With the return of Tillie, Clarke is probably the fourth option for Gonzaga behind Rui Hachimura, Zach Norvell Jr. andJosh Perkins. What makes Clarke perfect for this Gonzaga offense is the fact that he does not need a lot of touches to be effective. This is evident from his strong shooting percentage which is the third-best percentage in the country.
Able to use his size to bully smaller defenders down low, Clarke is an excellent finisher around the rim. He is shooting nearly 75 percent in the paint. But he is not just an athlete, dunking everything in sight. Possessing soft hands, Clarke has a variety of flip shots and floaters that he uses often with great success. He has great body control and is able to roll to the free throw line and use his floater. He is able to roll hard to the rim, make contested catches and finish in traffic because he is so quick off the floor. Here he scores 18 points against North Dakota State, showing his touch around the rim:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enNFJq3qge8
His Importance to Gonzaga
The Bulldogs are currently ranked as the number one team in the nation, despite playing in a weaker conference. They are loaded with talent which includes potential top-10 pick Hachimura, sharp-shooter Tillie and the explosive scorer Norvell Jr. It is common for teams that have so much talent to struggle in the NCAA Tournament. There is only one ball and therefore only so many shots available.
Offensively, Clarke is the one guy on the team who will not need a lot of touches to score. He is able to score because of his hustle and touch around the rim. Clarke’s talent as a roll man will open up space for Tillie, Perkins, Norvell and Corey Kispert, who are all good three-point shooters. Gonzaga is also able to play high-low basketball between Clarke and Hachimura. Both are capable passers and scorers from either the high post or beneath the basket.
Defensively, Clarke is often going to guard the best player on the opponents’ team, regardless of position. Clarke is capable of guarding traditional big men such as Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ; powerful athletes like Tennessee’s Grant Williams; or scoring wings like Duke’s R.J. Barrett. Smaller teams that rely on quickness and perimeter play will have trouble with Gonzaga. Clarke is more than capable of guarding people in space, possessing the athleticism to recover and make plays around the rim if beaten off the dribble.
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