Florida Gators guard Alex Klatsky leading by example
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In assembling an elite roster that has hopes of claiming multiple championships, all the pieces have to complement each other. The team chemistry has to be rich and evident from tipoff, the players have to anticipate each other’s movement and in-game style and there needs be a shared philosophy and cohesion that goes bench deep. In Alex Klatsky, the Florida Gators have a player in development that can help foster and solidify those attributes and be a valued asset to the depth of the roster.
The 6-foot-4 sophomore guard from Colts Neck, New Jersey, has had an interesting career as a high school baller. Klatsky was class president all four years and received the Scholar/Athlete Award and Leadership Award from his high school, Ranney School. Not only is he an intelligent and athletic person, but he also has charisma. At the time, this encouraged Gators’ coach, Mike White, to have a look at the possibility of recruiting Klatsky because you cannot instill leadership qualities within an individual. They have to be already present.
Klatsky had a whole host of schools to choose from, but he decided to go to UF because he’s always wanted to be a Gator. It’s a place where he feels he can thrive athletically and academically. On the academic side, he was the team captain of his state champion high school robotics team, which gave him the impulse to study engineering. It’s a demanding subject matter, but Klatsky has a deep interest in the field. On the athletic side, he comes from a family who has a healthy basketball legacy. His father played basketball at Skidmore and his cousin, Dave, played at Penn.
His current statistical history with the Florida Gators doesn’t raise any eyebrows, given he has only made four appearances in his freshman year. But Klatsky is known for being an elite shooter who can help stretch defenses. In a game at Tennessee, he did record a steal but hasn’t done much in terms of shooting or playing to fairly judge his on-court output with the team. With more minutes under his belt, Klatsky should see an increased volume in his shooting and defensive stats.
There’s no denying that Klatsky is a valued member of the team even if he hasn’t seen much action in his freshman year. He’s not only an intelligent and fast-learning individual, but he loves basketball. When you love something, you have an urge and fiery desire to want to do well and deliver the most you can offer. Klatsky has tasted victory in both high school and at the AAU level, so there’s hope that this winning mentality can transfer onto the Gators.
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