Chaniya Clark: The inspiration By ASIA WHITE

Video: https://youtu.be/81p25rNQQ1M

Chaniya Clark is a passionate and driven athlete. She is currently a Red Shirt Junior. Hailing from Fort Myers, Florida. Chaniya is studying Psychology to later pursue a career in Forensic Psychology, she says

"I have always had a fascination with why criminals do what they do".

Basketball has always been a part of Chaniya Clark’s life, but her passion for understanding the human mind has guided her academic path. A quiet yet determined player, she has worked hard both on and off the court to carve out a name for herself, growing into a dominant force at N.C. A&T

Chaniya was given the nickname "baby shaq" back in elementary school. She says

"I was always taller and bigger than everyone in my grade when it came to basketball. Now that I'm older I just stuck with it because that's the nickname I built for myself".

Chaniya was born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. She says "Fort Myers is very beautiful in my eyes". She would utilize their beautiful beaches to clear her mind.

Chaniya’s love for basketball was inspired by her mother, who also played the game. She wears the number 33 in honor of her mother’s legacy, determined to continue the family tradition of excelling on the court.

She lives by the quote “Success doesn’t come to you; you’ve got to go to it”

She describes her recruiting process as easy. She was looking for a family and Coach Rob made it very clear that A&T and their woman’s basketball team is a loving and family environment.

Since joining A&T’s women’s basketball team, Chaniya has grown tremendously as a player. In her freshman year, she became the first Aggie Women’s Basketball player to win a CAA weekly award. She was named CAA Rookie of the Year after a standout performance of 13 points and 12 rebounds in just 17 ½ minutes in a 110-40 win over Johnson (Tenn.). She continues to make an impact on the court, following in the footsteps of great A&T bigs like Aprill McRae, Eboni Ross, and Alexus Lessears.

While basketball is her passion, Chaniya understands the importance of giving back. She strives to be a role model for young athletes and hopes to inspire the next generation to pursue both athletics and education.

As her undergraduate career comes to an end, Chaniya reflects on her favorite experience at A&T—the WNIT tournament. “Just seeing how everyone came out and supported us during that time, that atmosphere was so dope to experience,” she says. As she looks toward the future, she remains focused on her goals, striving to leave her mark both in basketball and forensic psychology.

Credits:

Created with an image by Jay - "Sunset Fort Myers beach"