Kentucky Basketball - Live Breathe Blue - Twin Towers Take Kentucky Women’s Hoops by Storm

When it comes to dominant twin towers, Kentucky men’s basketball has had its fair share. From Tom Payne and Jim Andrews—to Rick Robey and Mike Phillips—to Sam Bowie and Mel Turpin—to Shagari Alleyne and Lukasz Obrzut (okay, I’m reaching a bit with that last pair), Kentucky's always had some tall timber in the paint.

But the women’s program? It’s been more of a picket fence. For the past few years, Matthew Mitchell and Kyra Elzy left us longing for a commanding inside presence—a post-patrolling, shot-swatting duo that could protect the paint and give Kentucky’s ladies a reliable go-to inside threat and a chance to legitimately compete within the SEC.

Enter Coach Kenny Brooks and his not-so-little additions: Clara Silva and Clara Strack. Yes, two towering Claras poised to make history, and they aren’t just here to block a few shots. They’re here to play together, transforming Kentucky's frontcourt into the proverbial impenetrable fortress.

The first Clara in our tale, Clara Silva, is a 6’7” center from Portugal, and she’s exactly the kind of player you might dream up if you were constructing a next-gen big. In the words of ESPN’s Shane Laflin, “If she was a player in the U.S., she’d safely land in the top 10 in the recruiting rankings.” Mike Robinson from The Ball Out readily agreed: “Depending on whom you ask, Silva might be the best center prospect in her class.” With smooth mobility, soft hands, and an array of finishes around the rim, she’s a throwback to dominant centers of the past—except with a range that, as we saw in the Blue-White scrimmage, can easily extend beyond the arc.

Then, there’s Clara Strack, the versatile 6’5” forward who made waves at Virginia Tech last season. When her All-America teammate Elizabeth Kitley went down, Strack stepped up in a big way, averaging 9.4 points, 6.8 boards, and 2.2 blocks per game in her final five games. Coach Brooks has called her one of the “smartest players” he’s ever coached, praising her ability to play four positions while orchestrating the offense with an innate understanding that goes well beyond rote memorization.

“She’s directing people on the floor,” Brooks bragged during the latest preseason presser. “In a manner that is really respectful, and the kids really listen to her.” This kind of leadership might be even more valuable than her rim protection and shot accuracy.

Brooks hints that he’ll be drawing up some “unconventional” lineups that leave opponents scratching their heads, saying, “You’re going to see (the twin towers look) a lot. They’re too talented not to have them on the floor together.”

The Clara Connection doesn’t stop with just twin Claras—it’s more like team Claras. Silva’s thrilled about the team’s new-found size, explaining during UK Media Day, “We have a lot of big players, but we also have a lot of shooters. We are going to be a good team. We have a little bit of everything. It’s exciting.”

And Strack, with a confidence as quiet as it is contagious, shared the excitement about their depth and versatility: “We have incredible depth in the post position… It’s super exciting that we can have so many of us on the floor at one time because we can all play together.”

Now, it’s fair to say that Kentucky hasn’t seen anything quite like these twin towers. With Silva’s European finesse and Strack’s high-IQ versatility, Kentucky’s new look will be less predictable and more intimidating than ever before. Brooks can now throw lineups at opponents that are as big as a skyscraper and as agile as a wing.

“It’s not a tease,” Brooks assured reporters, when asked about the spot minutes together the pair saw on the court during their latest scrimmage. “(Strack’s) versatility allows us to do that. She honestly can play four positions and play them well. It’s not like a gimmick…She has the green light to shoot the three. She’s worked on it. We’ve worked on it a lot and I want her to be confident as she continues to grow and evolve her game. And that’s a part of it.”

Silva, Strack, and Kentucky’s platoon of towering posts have given Brooks plenty to work with—and if we’re lucky, plenty to cheer for.

How good can this team be?

“I don’t think we have a ceiling,” Strack said with all the aplomb of her head coach beaming right beside her. “I think we can be a really good team this year. We have all the pieces.”

I agree wholeheartedly. In all my years of covering Kentucky basketball, I never thought I’d see a women’s team with this kind of size and skill in the post. I don’t know how good they’ll be, but I guarantee they’ll be fun to watch.

The excitement begins against USC Upstate this Monday, November 4, at 5:00 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum. You might want to get there early. The twin Claras will be ready to give the fans a new reason to cheer from the very first tip.

Dr. John Huang is a retired orthodontist, military veteran, and award-winning author. He currently serves as a columnist for Nolan Group Media. You can follow him on social media @KYHuangs and check out his debut novel—“Name, Image, and Murder”—and all his books at https://www.Amazon.com/stores/Dr.-John-Huang/author/B092RKJBRD