Tensions were high as fans inched towards the edge of their seats. The gymnasium was loud and lively as the crowd looked on with anticipation as Shani Clark got ready to shoot. Then, a unanimous silence swept the room as everyone held their breath with suspense. Clark runs up to the hoop, scores, and becomes the newest member of the 1000 point club.
“When it happened there was just an immediate sense of relief,” Shani Clark said. “Everyone started cheering, it was so crazy.”
Shani Clark has already made herself a household name for Bay Shore basketball fans. At just 17 years old, she already holds many titles for her achievements in basketball, including three time all league, two time Varsity Team MVP, two time Fall League, two time All County, two time All Academic, two time Corey Swinson Tournament MVP and mostly recently, she joined the 1000 points club. Clark was also a senior captain for the girl’s basketball team just last season where the girls made it to playoffs.
Although Shani Clark has solidified herself as a star basketball player, her success was garnered through years of hard work and dedication, not by chance. Starting her basketball journey at just two years old and having family members who played at collegiate and professional levels, Clark was destined for a future in the sport.
Although Clark has acquired a passion for the sport, it wasn’t always that way. Clark, like many other student athletes, started the sport because of her parents. Clark began playing with her dad from an early age.
“Honestly, it took me a while [to have a passion for the sport] because I was kind of forced into it, it wasn’t like I didn’t want to but, you know, I was a kid,” Clark said.
Moving from various towns prior to Bay Shore, Clark finally joined the Bay Shore community in her junior year. It wasn’t until playing at the high school that Clark really garnered a love for the sport, and her coaches noticed it too.
“Last year and the start of this season she was still more of an introverted kid, but now she’s in the middle of everything,” Devine Smith, Girls Varsity Basketball Coach, said. “She went from introverted to very outgoing.”
Standing at 6-foot-1, Clark completely dominates the court with both her skills and strategy.
“Sometimes [when I’m on the court] I feel happy and I’m just trying to have fun, while other times I have business to handle,” Clark said. “Sometimes it’s just determination and I feel like I have something to prove.”
Playing and alternating between all five positions, Clark really is an all around player. She’s able to fill in the gaps of her team while maintaining the strength of her gameplay.
“She leads the team in every category,” Aubrey Braxton, Varsity Girls Basketball coach, said. “She brings rebounding, scoring, blockshots, assists, she’s pretty much a total package for our team.”
Although Clark didn’t anticipate how vital she’d be to the team, she was quickly able to step up to the plate and give her all. Knowing that every game and player is different, Clark makes sure to take each game play by play, rather than having a structured plan, she stays quick on her feet.
“There isn’t really a strategy, for me it’s just quick thinking, intuition and reactions based on the person’s actions,” Clark said.
Her ability to adapt and take suggestions from coaches are more reasons why she’s such a valuable and strong player.
“[Shani] has become more receptive to coaching, more skillful and she’s working harder,”
Braxton said. “She works hard to overcome, she listens to what the coaches tell her and tries to apply it.”
Alongside juggling her academics, home life and basketball, Clark makes sure to dedicate time to her relationships on and off the court. Within her team, she balances being a strong leader and captain while being approachable and a friend to everyone.
“All the kids really love playing with her and respect her talents and the things she can do on the court,” Smith said.
Outside of her team, Clark has been able to make long lasting friendships, particularly with a fellow basketball player, Khaleis London. The two began as opponents of one another, often versing each other through their travel teams. After getting to know one another, they decided to transfer to Bay Shore together, introducing us to their iconic duo.
“I’ve created beautiful friendships through basketball,” Clark said.“Khaelis is like my sister, she’s probably the greatest thing basketball has given me.”
Although her high school basketball career has come to an end, Clark’s journey with basketball is just beginning. Clark plans to continue playing the sport in college and potentially going overseas. She intends to utilize basketball as a platform for her other outlets and hobbies like fashion and influencing.
“The more that you want something, the faster it’ll come to you, and in greater amounts,” Clark said. “In 10, 20 years I want to be that person people see on TV and say ‘Oh didn’t she go here?’”
With big hopes for her future, and a bright career ahead, it’s clear that this isn’t the last we’ll hear of Shani Clark.
