The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Ian Clark is going down under to continue playing basketball and buy time to think of what he wants to pursue career wise. He will do both when leaving for Australia as part of a Rotary Exchange in August. Having watched college ball, Ian believes he's good enough to play, but not to start. "I need to bulk up," he said. To a certain degree, his former Hapnot Collegiate Kopper Kings coach, Tony Ticzon, agrees. "He needs to learn how to get in shape, how to prepare," Ticzon explained. Ticzon said it will be a steep curve for Ian to adjust to, but doesn't think it will take him too much time. "Knowing Ian, he'll try hard to fit in," Ticzon explained. "Playing in Flin Flon didn't help because the quality of competition isn't the best. "He will see how strong the basketball development is in Australia," Ticzon said. "We're a hockey town and we develop them to play hockey at a young age. That's the problem." Ian knows there will be a transition from high school ball to the college level. "Everyone's going to be good," he said. "I will have to pass and look for openings. Mentally, you have to be ready. Kids out of high school are generally smaller." To give you an idea of how good Ian, who stands 6-1, is, he never scored less than 16 points in a game and his highest total this year was 30. He's been the leading scorer of his teams since Grade 10 and at times felt he got carried away with plays. This is a trait he feels he learned from watching the NBA. "We played our best when we played as a team," he said. As for his own game, Ian feels he's good at shooting and handling the ball. "If he plays with the southern players, he can be really good," Ticzon said, as he considers Ian to be among the top three players in Thompson, The Pas and Flin Flon. "He's pretty strong attacking the basket. He's really improved his inside game," he said. "He's a good all-around athlete. I wish I had one more year with him." When it comes to his basketball skills, he wants to improve his leadership abilities and communication. So does he have NBA aspirations? "I had those dreams," he said. "The chances are pretty slim to none." One of his favourite players is Canadian NBA star and last year's MVP, Steve Nash. "He's one of the only true point guards," he explained. "I like how he controls the game and makes it exciting. He knows how to run the floor. He plays a different brand." When it comes to game, Ian loves the competitiveness. "It's hard to explain why you like a sport," Ian said. "I want to keep playing as long as I can. I just love it." If he isn't able to continue playing, he admits it would be disappointing, but not the end of the world. Afterall, there is always rec basketball. Ian feels Ticzon has helped him progress because Ticzon himself was also a point guard when playing. "He taught me how to slow the game down," Ian explained. "Let the game come to me." The other thing he hopes comes to him while in Australia is his career choice. Ian had ideas of becoming a pharmacist or psychologist. Another idea is to become a physical education teacher. "I haven't thought about it too much. My past gym teachers have been good. One of my favourites is Rob Abbott."
