With father Ken and mother Cecilia looking on Friday at Ramstein High School, Germany, two-time All-Europe guard Krissy Grosselin signs a letter of intent to play basketball next season for Shepherd University of West Virginia. (Rusty Bryan / S&S)
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — Ramstein’s two-time All-Europe first-teamer Krissy Grosselin took her game to the next level Friday, three weeks before the tip-off of her senior season in high school, by accepting a full basketball scholarship offer from Shepherd University in West Virginia.
Grosselin, a 5-7 guard who averaged 18 points, four assists and three steals per game last season, signed her letter of intent with the NCAA Division II program in an after-school ceremony attended by her parents, her German league coach and her high school coaches, teachers and classmates.
“I’m very excited,” said Grosselin, who according to mother Cecilia had early-signing period offers from three schools, including one from Division I. “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Grosselin’s mother, who coaches the Ramstein girls’ team, said she and her husband were pleased with their daughter’s decision to sign with Shepherd.
“There were some schools which were stronger athletically, but we’re proud Krissy made the mature decision to pick the school which will suit her better in the future,” Cecilia Grosselin said. “Krissy realizes that college sports are just a temporary experience.”
Scholarship-athlete-to-be Grosselin, who’s also the leading scorer for FV Rockenhausen of the Rheinland-Pfalz regional league, said a parental overture to Shepherd last spring got the process started.
“My dad sent them a tape,” she said, “and they asked me to come to their summer camp so they could evaluate me.”
Given that she offered Grosselin a full scholarship even before her final high school season, Shepherd Rams coach Jodie Runner obviously liked what she saw last summer.
“Coach Runner and [assistant] Coach [Melanie] Ford recruited her hard,” said Grosselin’s father, Ken. “We got lots of phone calls and e-mails.”
Grosselin, who hopes to major in criminal justice, said she fielded one last unofficial offer as late as the morning of her signing.
“My brother called me at 6 o’clock this morning,” Grosselin said of her older sibling Kenny, the 2003 European cross country champion who’s now a freshman at the Air Force Academy. “He said it’s not too late to go to the academy.”
Grosselin’s reply, however, sealed the deal for Shepherd.
“Yes, it is,” she told him.
