Briercrest’s men’s basketball team is in the spotlight after posting an Instagram reel emulating somewhat unusual poses from actor Willem Dafoe. “Media day Willem Dafoe edition?!” the post said. It follows a viral trend on TikTok and Instagram of copying Dafoe’s poses from various photoshoots. During their annual media picture day, players were randomly handed a photo of Dafoe for the pose they needed to copy. The original video posted on their Instagram account last week had racked up close to six million views as of Friday afternoon. It added another two million views and counting after the video was posted by ESPN’s TikTok account on Thursday. Commenters have praised the players as everyone having “understood the assignment.” Poses include highlights such as a wide stance deep lean, laying down for a little nap and crouching on a chair in a way that heavily invokes the Green Goblin, one of Dafoe’s most iconic roles. The viral video serves as well-timed promotion for the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which open their season Friday in Red Deer. The school’s volleyball teams are also in action at home. Based in Caronport, Sask., Briercrest is a private Christian high school, college and seminary. The school’s college-level athletics teams compete in the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC) and the Prairie Athletic Conference.
