BIRMINGHAM – Despite the women’s basketball season start date being pushed to November 25, there is much to be excited about in Birmingham as the UAB women’s basketball team welcomes seven newcomers to the roster for the 2020-21 season. UABSports.com continues to introduce you to the new Blazers and provide unique opportunities to get to know these new faces.
Today’s ‘Meet the Blazers’ profile features a freshman guard, Emily Klaczek.
The Klaczek (clay-zak) File
Number: 11
Position: Guard
Height: 5-8
Hometown: Hoffman Estates, Illinois
What is your favorite thing about Hoffman Estates?
EK: “Hoffman Estates is northwest suburb of Chicago. I like the community. The elementary, middle and high schools feel like a home. Everyone is really close with each other, it’s a good community.”
When did you start playing basketball and why?
EK: “I started playing basketball in park district in the first grade with my dad as the coach. Not for any reason except to just get involved with sports. I played tee ball, basketball and soccer just to get my feet wet and try out some sports. It was my parent’s idea, not mine, I didn’t have much of a say at age five.”
Do you have a favorite basketball player? If so, who?
EK: “Kobe Bryant because of the kind of person he was on and off the court. He was a big family guy and a good husband and father.”
What is your favorite basketball memory?
EK: “My favorite basketball memory was winning state my senior year, by far the best memory. We made it to the semifinals my freshman year and then my sophomore and junior years were not our best but senior year we beat the defending champs to make it to state and then ended up winning.”
Did you play any other sports growing up? If so, which ones?
EK: “I played soccer from first grade to eighth grade. I was a midfielder; I’d never be able to run that much now. When I was younger, I played tee ball but didn’t stick with that for as long.”
You wear number 11, why did you choose that number?
EK: “I have never been number 11 before this. I was going to wear number 2 if that was available, but it wasn’t obviously. I chose 11 because my favorite bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11, but 29 isn’t a number here so I just went with 11.”
Why did you choose UAB?
EK: “I chose UAB because the minute I came down here and saw the school and met the coaching staff I did not feel the same about any other school. I left and said to my mom, ‘I am going to UAB, I love it.’ I met the girls and loved them, I met the coaching staff and loved them. Before I got the offer from UAB I thought there was no chance I would go far away, I wanted to stay close to home but after I came down here I thought this is going to have to be my home away from home because I love it.”
Do you have any siblings? If so, what are their names and how old are they?
EK: “I have four brothers. I have an older brother that is 20, his name is Jack. I have twin brothers who are 15, Nicholas and Ryan and then I have another younger brother who is 14 named Matthew. Being the only girl is awesome, I love it, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. You’d think it’s overwhelming but it’s not, there is no drama, they do their own thing and I do mine. When we want to get together and do something outside, we all agree, they’re very easy. We grew up playing football in the leaves growing up and playing one-on-one.”
Do you have any pets?
EK: “This is a sad question for me, I don’t have any, but I want one.”
Who is your biggest inspiration?
EK: “My older brother Jack. We are really close in age and growing up together I just always looked up to him even when we were younger. If he did something, I wanted to do it. Growing up in high school we had the same friend group when we were in school together, we are just really close.”
Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up?
EK: “I don’t really remember but I probably wanted to be in the WNBA.”
What do you want to be now?
EK: “I don’t know. I am still trying to figure it out.”
What are you majoring in?
EK: “I am undecided right now.”
What did you do during quarantine?
EK: “The weather started to get nice, so I went on a lot of walks with my dad. My twin brothers and I started this movie binge where once a day we would watch a scary movie. I’m not a scary movie person so we had to watch them before it was dark, so it wasn’t too close to bedtime. I don’t love them, but they do so I joined in. I shot some hoops of course too.”
What is your favorite TV show to binge watch?
EK: “One Tree Hill. I am re-watching it right now even, it’s like my third or fourth time watching it. I think I was in eighth grade the first time I ever saw it.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
EK: “I like to read, but it has to be something I am interested in reading. I plan on taking a trip around the world after college, so I like to read about that and invest my time in that because it’s something where if everything goes right it’s going to happen. I read books about places, watch vlogs about it, I even pretend track my flight. I want to take like six months off and go to New Zealand, Australia, Bali, China, and I want to hit Europe.”
Who is one artist you want to see in concert the most?
EK: “Zac Brown Band. I’ve never seen them before.”
If you could have any actress play you who would it be?
EK: “Blake Lively, she’s so pretty and such a good actress, I just love her.”
What is your favorite meal/type of food?
EK: “My mom’s steak. Any steak, really, but my mom’s is the best.”
If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?
EK: “New Zealand, it just looks like so much fun.”
What is your favorite book?
EK: “The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls.”
What are you looking forward to most in your first basketball season at UAB?
EK: “What I am looking forward to the most in my first season at UAB is playing games and getting to know the girls. I can’t wait to get to know my teammates more and start playing with them on the court.”
Make sure to check @UAB_WBB on Twitter and UAB_wbball on Instagram all week for more on Emily Klaczek.
Secure your women’s basketball season tickets by purchasing the 2020-21 Gold Card for $65 here. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB women’s basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB) and Instagram (UAB_WBBall).
