Cley Perrett

Built for the Long Game: The Cley Perrett Philosophy

From a childhood spent in his mom’s gym to chasing a championship under open skies, Cley’s story is equal parts grit, gratitude, and pure love of the game.

Some players discover basketball. Cley Perrett grew up inside it. His mom ran basketball camps, and as soon as he could walk, he was there — miniature sneakers, oversized ball, already trying to keep up. “There’s never been a time in my life where I didn’t want to play college basketball,” he says. And you believe him.

He still remembers his first high-school game — not because of some heroic stat line, but because he was terrified. “I was scared out of my mind,” he admits, laughing. Fear became the fuel. The turning point came in Grade 11, when confidence finally caught up to effort. From there, everything changed — the game slowed down, the growth sped up.

Making it onto a college team remains his proudest achievement — not because of status, but because of sweat. It was built through every practice, every rep, every moment when no one was watching.

Now, what keeps him pushing through hard days is simple: love. Love of the game, love of the work, love of the feeling that comes when all the unseen effort finally shows up on the scoreboard. “I just want to help us win a championship,” he says. “I want to make a positive impact on the program — for everyone.”

Off the court, Cley trades gym lights for sunlight. He’s the guy who heads outdoors whenever he can — hiking, exploring, anything that gets him moving and grounded. “Being in nature helps me reset and focus on what’s important,” he says. It’s not a hobby — it’s balance.

As for pre-game rituals? Cley’s got one that perfectly captures his vibe: he locks onto a song — one track, two months straight, on repeat before every practice and game. Sometimes it’s country, sometimes it’s rap. Depends on the month, depends on the mood. Always the same intensity.

If there’s a theme running through his story, it’s consistency — in work, in purpose, in love for the game. Cley Perrett isn’t just chasing a championship; he’s chasing the best version of himself, one bucket, one hike, and one song at a time.