Viaer-McClymont Key to Bucknell's Chemistry - BUCKNELL OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Viaer-McClymont Key to Bucknell's Chemistry

Senior is Every Bit a Team Player

Tarik Viaer-McClymont

March 3, 2006

By Jillian Jakuba, Bucknell Athletic Communications

If you've followed Bucknell Basketball at all over the past four years you have probably seen Charles Lee being a vocal leader on the court, read a quote by Kevin Bettencourt in a newspaper article and, thanks to ESPN "The Season - College Basketball", know that Holland Mack has a budding music career and isn't the least bit camera shy. But what about the fourth member of the Class of '06? You may not have noticed him or know much about him, but senior center Tarik Viaer-McClymont has always been there in the background playing his role, quietly contributing to the success of the Bison.

Viaer-McClymont grew up in Springfield Gardens, N.Y., amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City, so it should come as no surprise that Lewisburg was a bit of a culture shock for him as a freshman.

"At first I was homesick," says Viaer-McClymont. "Compared to New York, Bucknell and Lewisburg were like the middle of nowhere. It was hard to adjust being away from family and friends, but once my freshman season started, I bonded with my teammates and the team became like a second family for me."

Although Viaer-McClymont cites Bucknell's stellar academic reputation and its history as a perennial leader in student-athlete graduation rates as his primary reason for trading in city life for rural Pennsylvania, being a member of the Bison has afforded him the opportunity to see the country and the world. During his four years here, the team has traveled all over the country during the regular season and to Ireland and England during the offseason.

As a freshman, Viaer-McClymont fell into his role as a key reserve midway through the season. He appeared in just three of the team's first 11 contests but closed out his first year with the Orange and Blue by seeing action in the final 18 games. He followed up by playing an average of nine minutes per-game his sophomore year over 26 contests and shot 57.1% from the field on the season. Then as a junior, Viaer-McClymont saw action in 32 of 33 games off the bench, appearing in Bucknell's Patriot League Championship victory over Holy Cross and NCAA first round upset of Kansas, two games that he considers to be his favorite experiences as a member of the Bison, despite seeing a combined total of six minutes of playing time in those contests.

This is perhaps why Viaer-McClymont blends into the background of this Bison squad, making it surprisingly difficult to notice him despite his 6-7, 264-pound frame--Viaer-McClymont is the epitome of the phrase "team player". When he's with his teammates, Viaer-McClymont effortlessly becomes part of a unit instead of an individual.

Make no mistake; he is perfectly content to remain out of the spotlight. Viaer-McClymont is a man of few words and would prefer to let his actions do the talking.

"I try to lead by example and just work hard all the time," he comments. His quiet manor is hardly cold or unfriendly as his kind smile and gentile nature clearly show why he has been so endearing to his teammates. When asked what he will miss the most after he graduates, Viaer-McClymont simply gestures towards the court where some of the other Bison players have come out to shoot around after practice and simply states, "I'll miss those guys over there. I'll miss everybody."

Viaer-McClymont provides the perfect compliment to the more vocal members of the senior class, which is maybe part of the reason why this squad has team chemistry that is almost tangible. Most may not have noticed Viaer-McClymont while he has been a member of the Bison, but he will clearly be missed by all once he graduates.