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ALTON — In an online poll that drew nearly 1,000 votes, Alton sophomore Drew Clary is the SWMOBasketball Week 2 Player of the Week.
A 5’10 2020 guard, Clary is averaging 27.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.8 steals, is shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and has made 17 3-pointers while helping the Comets to a 3-3 start this season.
All this after he sat out nearly all of the previous summer leading up to the season with a knee injury
“I spent most of the summer recovering from a knee injury but was able to play a few camps with my school team,” he said. “I feel like getting some extra varsity experience really helped with my game.”
A young team, Alton is still growing at the varsity level after going 9-15 a year ago, the team counts among its three losses a one-point loss to Willow Springs and a close defeat to Neelyville.
“Our expectations to win are always high but we’re a young group,” Clary said. “We start four sophomores and my brother is the only senior on the team. Our bench consists of two more sophomores and a junior. We try to grow better as a team every game.”
Clary says he is looking forward to a Jan. 2 showdown against Thayer, widely considered one of the better small-school teams in southwest Missouri.
“I always look forward to playing Thayer,” Clary said. “They’re a great team and rival. I thinking playing that level of competition makes us a better team.”
Clary says his teammates at Alton have had the biggest influence on his basketball career to date.
“They are my best friends and who I’ve played with since second grade,” he said. “They inspire me to work hard to be a great team player and the best player I can be.”
A fan of former Laker Kobe Bryant, Clary says he enjoyed watching the star compete.
“I enjoy watching all levels of basketball, but when Kobe Bryant played I really enjoyed watching his game,” Clary said. “I’ve always looked up to him, and his skill and mentality. I’ve tried to implement his midrange game into my playing as much as I can.”
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