University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Brandon Klatsky
November 24, 2023 | Men's Basketball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
The first year of college involves soaking up a lot of new information. When you're a student-athlete, you can at least double the amount of new ideas and info coming your way. For Georgia men's basketball guard Brandon Klatsky, his first year with the Bulldogs was a great, enjoyable learning experience.
A 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman from Colts Neck, N.J., Klatsky walked on to coach Mike White's team last season. His older brother, Alex, was a walk-on on at Florida when White was still the head coach of the Gators (and is a fifth-year player this season). So now the Klatsky brothers have the classic Georgia vs. Florida rivalry, except their parents are Florida graduates, so it's a bit of three-on-one. Of course, that made the Georgia football team's rout of the Gators last month that much sweeter.
During a recent Quick Chat, Klatsky talked about how much he's learned since coming to Georgia, being a good teammate, going to see other Bulldog teams play, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What is your basketball IQ like now compared to when you first got to Georgia?
Klatsky: I would say it's much, much higher. I mean, just being around high-level play and coaching, and all of the support staff, too, and watching all the film, it definitely makes your IQ go up a level. You just see the game a different way.
Frierson: What's the best part of that?
Klatsky: It's things like being able to read the defense — you can guess what they're going to do before they do it. You're watching something and then you go watch film on it, you realize that, oh, the next time that happens, you're going to see that guy go here, this guy cut back there. Studying all that, you'll be able to read the game before it happens.
Frierson: What do you do to be the best teammate you can be?
Klatsky: It's all about the team. I love supporting the guys, using my voice, helping people. Even if I'm not out there, I still have a good understanding of what's going on. I can help those that are playing if they forget something. It's just being vocal and being able to lead without even being out on the court.
Frierson: When you look at the basketball world, whether it's college or the NBA, what intrigues you or interests you?
Klatsky: I think it's just the challenge and the adversity that you face in the basketball world. That's just sports in general. You're always going to have to keep fighting back and overcoming problems and challenges you face — and that's a great skill to have moving forward, past your basketball career.
Frierson: What has been the best or most interesting class you've taken at Georgia?
Klatsky: The most challenging would have to be an accounting class I took. My favorite would have to be in Management Information Systems and Technology, the Excel class. I loved that class. It's basically about learning how to do Excel and just managing data information.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on this year's team?
Klatsky: It's Justin Hill, for sure. I don't think he's trying to be funny, it's just the way he talks and acts. He's really funny.
I'm not going to lie, Justin and Jalen DeLoach are probably a close one and two. Last year, Justin was a clear No. 1. This year, it's close.
Frierson: Is there much smack talk going on between you and your brother regarding all things Georgia-Florida?
Klatsky: There is definitely a lot of smack talk. I would say, especially after one of us loses, the group chat is always going to have tempers flaring. And football, the smack talk hit an all-time high. That's not even a question.
Obviously, I am the odd one out since both of my parents went to Florida, so the past two football games have been a lot of fun.
Frierson: Do you get out to other Georgia sporting events much?
Klatsky: I go to as many volleyball matches as I can, I've gone to a few soccer games, and every home football game I'm going to if I can. I'm definitely close to a lot of the athletes, so I want to go and support them whenever I can.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
The first year of college involves soaking up a lot of new information. When you're a student-athlete, you can at least double the amount of new ideas and info coming your way. For Georgia men's basketball guard Brandon Klatsky, his first year with the Bulldogs was a great, enjoyable learning experience.
A 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman from Colts Neck, N.J., Klatsky walked on to coach Mike White's team last season. His older brother, Alex, was a walk-on on at Florida when White was still the head coach of the Gators (and is a fifth-year player this season). So now the Klatsky brothers have the classic Georgia vs. Florida rivalry, except their parents are Florida graduates, so it's a bit of three-on-one. Of course, that made the Georgia football team's rout of the Gators last month that much sweeter.
During a recent Quick Chat, Klatsky talked about how much he's learned since coming to Georgia, being a good teammate, going to see other Bulldog teams play, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What is your basketball IQ like now compared to when you first got to Georgia?
Klatsky: I would say it's much, much higher. I mean, just being around high-level play and coaching, and all of the support staff, too, and watching all the film, it definitely makes your IQ go up a level. You just see the game a different way.
Frierson: What's the best part of that?
Klatsky: It's things like being able to read the defense — you can guess what they're going to do before they do it. You're watching something and then you go watch film on it, you realize that, oh, the next time that happens, you're going to see that guy go here, this guy cut back there. Studying all that, you'll be able to read the game before it happens.
Frierson: What do you do to be the best teammate you can be?
Klatsky: It's all about the team. I love supporting the guys, using my voice, helping people. Even if I'm not out there, I still have a good understanding of what's going on. I can help those that are playing if they forget something. It's just being vocal and being able to lead without even being out on the court.
Frierson: When you look at the basketball world, whether it's college or the NBA, what intrigues you or interests you?
Klatsky: I think it's just the challenge and the adversity that you face in the basketball world. That's just sports in general. You're always going to have to keep fighting back and overcoming problems and challenges you face — and that's a great skill to have moving forward, past your basketball career.
Frierson: What has been the best or most interesting class you've taken at Georgia?
Klatsky: The most challenging would have to be an accounting class I took. My favorite would have to be in Management Information Systems and Technology, the Excel class. I loved that class. It's basically about learning how to do Excel and just managing data information.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on this year's team?
Klatsky: It's Justin Hill, for sure. I don't think he's trying to be funny, it's just the way he talks and acts. He's really funny.
I'm not going to lie, Justin and Jalen DeLoach are probably a close one and two. Last year, Justin was a clear No. 1. This year, it's close.
Frierson: Is there much smack talk going on between you and your brother regarding all things Georgia-Florida?
Klatsky: There is definitely a lot of smack talk. I would say, especially after one of us loses, the group chat is always going to have tempers flaring. And football, the smack talk hit an all-time high. That's not even a question.
Obviously, I am the odd one out since both of my parents went to Florida, so the past two football games have been a lot of fun.
Frierson: Do you get out to other Georgia sporting events much?
Klatsky: I go to as many volleyball matches as I can, I've gone to a few soccer games, and every home football game I'm going to if I can. I'm definitely close to a lot of the athletes, so I want to go and support them whenever I can.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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