Boston College Athletics
Meet Freshman Clara Ford
September 23, 2018 | Women's Basketball
Virginia's Clara Ford has easily adjusted to the BC life
Clara Ford, a freshman forward, arrived at the Heights from Vienna, Virginia. Ford played for coach Mike Trivisonno at George C. Marshall High School and was a Captial Conference All-Conference first team honoree. She was also the Player of the Year in the Capital Conference. Ford has now set her sights on helping Boston College women's basketball get back to a post-season tournament.
Learn a little more about BC's freshman Clara Ford.
Full name: Clara Gisele Anne Ford
Hometown: Vienna, Virginia
High School: George C. Marshall H.S.
Position: Center/Forward
Q: Being one of seven freshmen this year, what has been the biggest adjustment for the group?
A: The biggest adjustment for us would be the quicker pace of everything. Compared to high school, everything moves faster: practice drills, transitions between drills, lift, all in the best possible way. Everything is faster and we feel like we're using our time very productively and getting the most out of everything. I think because there are so many of us, it has made the transition easier.
Q – How important do you think the work outs as well as attending classes over the summer helped you?
A: I'm very grateful that I got the opportunity to come in during the summer. Training allowed me to get to know the coaching staff and their style prior to the start of school. Taking classes made me more comfortable with college courses, which made me more at ease once school began. And in general, just being on campus acquainted me with my surroundings.
Q: Why did you choose Boston College?
A: The second I stepped on campus, I knew this was the place for me. The campus is beautiful, the academics are amazing, and I love the team. I also couldn't pass up the opportunity to play on such a large stage – the ACC.
Q: What type of style do you play and what will you try to bring to the team?
A: One of my biggest assets is my speed. I want to run every possession and beat my defender down the court. As a center, my ability to jump will give me some advantage grabbing rebounds. I'm also a supportive and encouraging teammate, so I hope to bring a lot of energy and keep my teammates positive.
Q: What has been the biggest adjustment going from high school basketball to college?
A: College basketball is another level of intensity that is difficult to comprehend until you get here. Practices are difficult, lifting was hard at first but as time go, you adjust and it becomes easier.
Q: Is there a player you model your game after?
A: Not really because I was exposed to the sport late in my life. I didn't grow up avidly watching basketball, and never truly looked up to players.
Q: What WNBA player would you love to play one-on-one against and why?
A: A'ja Wilson – I got a chance to see her play in the quarterfinals against UConn last year. I also saw her on the Las Vegas Aces this August. I love the way she plays, and at some point, I aim to play more like her.
Q: What are you looking forward to most this season?
A: I'm excited to get closer to my teammates, travel and surprise people.
Q: Do you have pregame rituals?
A: I listen to my own music and take deep breaths to clear my mind. I also jump around to get my blood pumping early on and to get in the right mindset.
Q: If you didn't play basketball, what other sport would you play at BC?
A: I would love to play volleyball. I played for five years and find myself missing it.
Q: Who introduced you to the game of basketball and when did you know you wanted to play at this level?
A: I was introduced to basketball in middle school by my coach, Coach Uariachi. I first really started playing in eighth grade when I was on the high school varsity team. We played in a tournament in Switzerland, which was when I realized all the opportunities basketball could provide. After that, I started getting serious about the sport.
Q: What do you do away from the court?
A: I love to listen to music, spend time with my family, friends and enjoy being outdoors. I also love drawing, watercolors and pottery.
Q: What was the highlight of your summer?
A: For the Fourth of July, the team took a trip into Boston. We walked around Quincy Market, got dinner together and watched the fireworks. It was great for team bonding and a memory that will last forever.
Q: You have traveled a lot; can you talk about living overseas and now here in the stats? How many languages are you fluent in?
A: I grew up a kid of foreign services officer so I spent about 12 years of my life overseas. I lived in Suriname, South Africa, Madagascar, Morocco and for the last four years Virginia.
The opportunity to live in all these amazing countries has taught me so many life lessons, and given me so many great experiences. The sport of basketball isn't as wide spread in those countries so I really picked it up recently, so coming into an athletically-centered country was overwhelming at first.
I am fluent in English and French because my mom is French, and I have lived in Madagascar and Morocco.
Learn a little more about BC's freshman Clara Ford.
Full name: Clara Gisele Anne Ford
Hometown: Vienna, Virginia
High School: George C. Marshall H.S.
Position: Center/Forward
Q: Being one of seven freshmen this year, what has been the biggest adjustment for the group?
A: The biggest adjustment for us would be the quicker pace of everything. Compared to high school, everything moves faster: practice drills, transitions between drills, lift, all in the best possible way. Everything is faster and we feel like we're using our time very productively and getting the most out of everything. I think because there are so many of us, it has made the transition easier.
Q – How important do you think the work outs as well as attending classes over the summer helped you?
A: I'm very grateful that I got the opportunity to come in during the summer. Training allowed me to get to know the coaching staff and their style prior to the start of school. Taking classes made me more comfortable with college courses, which made me more at ease once school began. And in general, just being on campus acquainted me with my surroundings.
Q: Why did you choose Boston College?
A: The second I stepped on campus, I knew this was the place for me. The campus is beautiful, the academics are amazing, and I love the team. I also couldn't pass up the opportunity to play on such a large stage – the ACC.
Q: What type of style do you play and what will you try to bring to the team?
A: One of my biggest assets is my speed. I want to run every possession and beat my defender down the court. As a center, my ability to jump will give me some advantage grabbing rebounds. I'm also a supportive and encouraging teammate, so I hope to bring a lot of energy and keep my teammates positive.
Q: What has been the biggest adjustment going from high school basketball to college?
A: College basketball is another level of intensity that is difficult to comprehend until you get here. Practices are difficult, lifting was hard at first but as time go, you adjust and it becomes easier.
Q: Is there a player you model your game after?
A: Not really because I was exposed to the sport late in my life. I didn't grow up avidly watching basketball, and never truly looked up to players.
Q: What WNBA player would you love to play one-on-one against and why?
A: A'ja Wilson – I got a chance to see her play in the quarterfinals against UConn last year. I also saw her on the Las Vegas Aces this August. I love the way she plays, and at some point, I aim to play more like her.
Q: What are you looking forward to most this season?
A: I'm excited to get closer to my teammates, travel and surprise people.
Q: Do you have pregame rituals?
A: I listen to my own music and take deep breaths to clear my mind. I also jump around to get my blood pumping early on and to get in the right mindset.
Q: If you didn't play basketball, what other sport would you play at BC?
A: I would love to play volleyball. I played for five years and find myself missing it.
Q: Who introduced you to the game of basketball and when did you know you wanted to play at this level?
A: I was introduced to basketball in middle school by my coach, Coach Uariachi. I first really started playing in eighth grade when I was on the high school varsity team. We played in a tournament in Switzerland, which was when I realized all the opportunities basketball could provide. After that, I started getting serious about the sport.
Q: What do you do away from the court?
A: I love to listen to music, spend time with my family, friends and enjoy being outdoors. I also love drawing, watercolors and pottery.
Q: What was the highlight of your summer?
A: For the Fourth of July, the team took a trip into Boston. We walked around Quincy Market, got dinner together and watched the fireworks. It was great for team bonding and a memory that will last forever.
Q: You have traveled a lot; can you talk about living overseas and now here in the stats? How many languages are you fluent in?
A: I grew up a kid of foreign services officer so I spent about 12 years of my life overseas. I lived in Suriname, South Africa, Madagascar, Morocco and for the last four years Virginia.
The opportunity to live in all these amazing countries has taught me so many life lessons, and given me so many great experiences. The sport of basketball isn't as wide spread in those countries so I really picked it up recently, so coming into an athletically-centered country was overwhelming at first.
I am fluent in English and French because my mom is French, and I have lived in Madagascar and Morocco.
Players Mentioned
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