University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Brandon Klatsky
December 20, 2024 | Men's Basketball, The Frierson Files
Quick Chat: Brandon Klatsky
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Brandon Klatsky is in his third season with the Georgia men's basketball team. The walk-on got into three games as a redshirt freshman in 2023-24 and has played in five of the Bulldogs' first 11 games this season. He's looking forward to the day he scores his first basket.
"I need to hit one," he said during a recent Quick Chat.
Unlike his first two seasons, Klatsky has his brother Alex nearby now. Alex walked on at Florida when coach Mike White was with the Gators before taking the Georgia job, and now Alex is a graduate manager on White's squad in Athens. The Klatsky brothers, from Colts Neck, N.J., do a lot of playful arguing and fighting with one another, Brandon said, something that dates back to childhood.
During the Q&A, Klatsky talked about having his brother around, what it's like to occasionally get in a game, how much he's improved since he got to Georgia, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What is it like having your brother here? Is it fun being able to share your favorite spots in Athens with him?
Klatsky: Yeah, I definitely have enjoyed it. We still have our little arguments and fights like we've always had growing up, but I'd say it's like the vibes when we're in the gym together and stuff are very similar. Like when we were in high school, we were on the same team for his senior year, my freshman year, it's like those vibes are the same and we try to keep our (playful) fighting and arguing in private.
It's been awesome sharing Athens with him. I would always brag about how Athens better than Gainesville and all that. And now that I can finally show him.
Frierson: I gotta ask what, what do you two fight about?
Klatsky: It's just the usual stupid stuff. Yeah, you're like, in hindsight, why the heck were we arguing about that exactly? Or it would be something dumb, like who's gonna win a football game.
Frierson: Has it been fun to see your relationship evolve as you've gotten older?
Klatsky: Yeah, I definitely heed a little bit more of his advice now than I used to. I feel like he's definitely looking out for me a little bit more. So that's been fun, and I trust his word and also his experience, because he's been through it, so he knows what he's talking about when it comes to certain situations.
Frierson: You've gotten in four games (at the time of the interview) already this season. What does it feel like in your position to get in the game? Because there's, I'm sure, the part of you that's like, I want to do everything in this limited amount of time I have. But at the same time, you don't want to be reckless and then not get in the next game.
Klatsky: I mean, it's crazy just getting in there. It's a rush, and I've got to get at least one shot. I try to hit one. I need to hit one. Still haven't scored yet. But I also don't want to get in there, like you said, and just try and do too much. I'll also try and find Jaden (Newell), have Jaden get his opportunities, you know?
I mean, when I get in there, if the ball comes to me and I got a good opportunity, I'll try and make a play. But if not, then I'm not really going to force anything. Because I also know Coach White and everyone, we're all talking about the analytics and stuff, and nowadays it's such a big thing. So as much as those minutes don't really matter for the results of the game, you try not to let them score or to turn the ball over so much, because then those offensive ratings and defensive ratings go down and stuff. And nowadays those matter.
Frierson: I love that it's still kind of exhilarating for you. Does it feel the same as it did the very first time you got in a game?
Klatsky: I definitely still am like, OK, here we go. But I would say my nerves have calmed, but I still get that same adrenaline rush and it's still fun, but the rush has slowed down a little bit each game.
Frierson: Can you look back at the basketball player you were when you first got here and see a chasm between then and now?
Klatsky: The easy answer is just physically, with (Director of Athletic Performance Collin Crane) and lifting, I definitely have gotten so much stronger and bigger. I also grew a couple inches. But that's the easy answer. I also feel like now I'm so much more confident when it comes to handling the ball and being able to not panic with it as much.
I feel like if the player I was when I came in played 1-on-1 with me now, the me now would win 11-0.
Frierson: Do you have a favorite Christmas movie?
Klatsky: It's between two: "Polar Express" and "Elf". Those two are my favorite.
Frierson: Is "Die Hard" a Christmas movie?
Klatsky: To be honest, I've never seen it. But I've heard the arguments about it and different people's sentiments. Just because it takes place at Christmastime, that doesn't make it a Christmas movie.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Brandon Klatsky is in his third season with the Georgia men's basketball team. The walk-on got into three games as a redshirt freshman in 2023-24 and has played in five of the Bulldogs' first 11 games this season. He's looking forward to the day he scores his first basket.
"I need to hit one," he said during a recent Quick Chat.
Unlike his first two seasons, Klatsky has his brother Alex nearby now. Alex walked on at Florida when coach Mike White was with the Gators before taking the Georgia job, and now Alex is a graduate manager on White's squad in Athens. The Klatsky brothers, from Colts Neck, N.J., do a lot of playful arguing and fighting with one another, Brandon said, something that dates back to childhood.
During the Q&A, Klatsky talked about having his brother around, what it's like to occasionally get in a game, how much he's improved since he got to Georgia, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What is it like having your brother here? Is it fun being able to share your favorite spots in Athens with him?
Klatsky: Yeah, I definitely have enjoyed it. We still have our little arguments and fights like we've always had growing up, but I'd say it's like the vibes when we're in the gym together and stuff are very similar. Like when we were in high school, we were on the same team for his senior year, my freshman year, it's like those vibes are the same and we try to keep our (playful) fighting and arguing in private.
It's been awesome sharing Athens with him. I would always brag about how Athens better than Gainesville and all that. And now that I can finally show him.
Frierson: I gotta ask what, what do you two fight about?
Klatsky: It's just the usual stupid stuff. Yeah, you're like, in hindsight, why the heck were we arguing about that exactly? Or it would be something dumb, like who's gonna win a football game.
Frierson: Has it been fun to see your relationship evolve as you've gotten older?
Klatsky: Yeah, I definitely heed a little bit more of his advice now than I used to. I feel like he's definitely looking out for me a little bit more. So that's been fun, and I trust his word and also his experience, because he's been through it, so he knows what he's talking about when it comes to certain situations.
Frierson: You've gotten in four games (at the time of the interview) already this season. What does it feel like in your position to get in the game? Because there's, I'm sure, the part of you that's like, I want to do everything in this limited amount of time I have. But at the same time, you don't want to be reckless and then not get in the next game.
Klatsky: I mean, it's crazy just getting in there. It's a rush, and I've got to get at least one shot. I try to hit one. I need to hit one. Still haven't scored yet. But I also don't want to get in there, like you said, and just try and do too much. I'll also try and find Jaden (Newell), have Jaden get his opportunities, you know?
I mean, when I get in there, if the ball comes to me and I got a good opportunity, I'll try and make a play. But if not, then I'm not really going to force anything. Because I also know Coach White and everyone, we're all talking about the analytics and stuff, and nowadays it's such a big thing. So as much as those minutes don't really matter for the results of the game, you try not to let them score or to turn the ball over so much, because then those offensive ratings and defensive ratings go down and stuff. And nowadays those matter.
Frierson: I love that it's still kind of exhilarating for you. Does it feel the same as it did the very first time you got in a game?
Klatsky: I definitely still am like, OK, here we go. But I would say my nerves have calmed, but I still get that same adrenaline rush and it's still fun, but the rush has slowed down a little bit each game.
Frierson: Can you look back at the basketball player you were when you first got here and see a chasm between then and now?
Klatsky: The easy answer is just physically, with (Director of Athletic Performance Collin Crane) and lifting, I definitely have gotten so much stronger and bigger. I also grew a couple inches. But that's the easy answer. I also feel like now I'm so much more confident when it comes to handling the ball and being able to not panic with it as much.
I feel like if the player I was when I came in played 1-on-1 with me now, the me now would win 11-0.
Frierson: Do you have a favorite Christmas movie?
Klatsky: It's between two: "Polar Express" and "Elf". Those two are my favorite.
Frierson: Is "Die Hard" a Christmas movie?
Klatsky: To be honest, I've never seen it. But I've heard the arguments about it and different people's sentiments. Just because it takes place at Christmastime, that doesn't make it a Christmas movie.
(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.
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