By: Carter Gribble & Xavier Moimoi
SEATTLE- Being a leader on O’Dea’s Basketball team goes beyond points scored on the court for Senior Captain Malcolm Clark.
O’Dea basketball has been more than just an extracurricular for senior captain Malcolm Clark; basketball served as a way to grow closer to his O’Dea brothers and his biological brother.
Miles Clark, class of '23, is Malcolm’s older brother who has also been heavily involved in the basketball program since Malcolm’s sophomore year.
Last year, Miles played a key role in the Irish squad that placed 2nd in the state tournament. He was the focal point of the leadership aspect amongst last year’s seniors. Miles embraced discipline, loyalty, and humility throughout the last season.
This year, Malcolm is filling that role as a key leader and is embracing those same traits that his brother did, as well as some new ones.
This season is personal for Malcolm; coming off a second-place finish in the state, Malcolm is fostering the hunger that has been brewing within the program over the last 9 months.
“It’s going to take grit; every season does, but this season is personal, these guys are hungry.”
While Malcolm is still spreading discipline, loyalty, and humility, there is a new word this season for the Irish: Grit.
The roster sustained a huge hit on the last day of tryouts and lost senior star point guard Noel Davis, who tore his ACL.
“Noel was a huge part of the team, and it's going to take a lot of work to try and fill that role.”
This tragic news presents a challenge to Malcolm with leading the team this season. Along with Noel’s absence, the Irish have no returning starters from last year; they are an extremely young team.
Rainier Beach, Garfield, and Eastside Catholic all have returning starters and will be tough opponents for the team.
Malcolm is ready though, he's seen what it takes to lead a team since his sophomore season watching Owen Moriarty, and his junior season watching Miles motivate the team.
As of now, Malcolm says the biggest goal for the Irish is to win metros.
“We are taking it day by day, just trying to improve as a unit, but that first goal for us is that metro title.”
The Irish play Nathan Hale this Friday at home. They plan to take it one step at a time, just like those before them."