The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's basketball team looks to have a lot of depth at the guard position this coming Canada West season.

The Pack are announcing their fourth committed recruit for 2019-20 and like the other two of the three, she plays primarily the guard position.
5'8" Kelsey Cruz of Calgary, Alberta will be joining the WolfPack.  Cruz will be graduating from St. Francis High School this spring and plays club basketball for the Vision Basketball Academy.

"TRU has a strong academic and athletic reputation," Cruz states. " I was interested in a school that encouraged a personalized approach to learning , had a strong basketball program and an emphasis on giving back to the community. . As a student/athlete, I felt it was important to be part of a skilled team with a strong work ethic and a positive attitude while maintaining a high level of commitment to winning. It also helped that the athletic facilities and the walkability of the campus were incredible making it very easy to picture myself here."
 
Cruz was looking at schools in Ontario and Eastern Canada before choosing Thompson Rivers where she will take courses aimed at earning a Bachelor of Science Degree.  She plans to major in Chemical Biology and met with Professor Heidi Huttunen-Hennelly (wife of WolfPack men's volleyball coach Pat) during her campus visit.   "Her excitement around science was so authentic that it reinforced my decision to choose TRU and the Faculty of Science."

Cruz feels her greatest strength on the court is her versatility, "I work hard at being a valuable defensive player. I am aggressive in attacking the hoop, whether the finish is mine or I am kicking it back out to the perimeter. I feel basketball has made me a better person both on and off the court."
 
 
She is blunt about what it will take in order to make her a key member of the WolfPack's success on the court as the program continues its rebuild stage. " The key to my success will be mental and physical readiness. In order to compete at this level, I need to continue to be strong defensively, communicate constantly, be assertive in attacking the hoop and confident from the three."

Mark Hogan has coached Kelsey for the last three club basketball seasons with Vision Basketball Academy.  " Our tempo is always at its optimal level when Kelsey is on the floor. Her greatest offensive asset is breaking down her defender and attacking the basket-from there she finishes well or finds an open teammate. Defensively, her full court pressure always disrupts ball handlers. She loves to run and play in transition. She's an amazing teammate, loves her teammates and they love her."
He adds, " Kelsey will definitely fit in well athletically at the U SPORTS level.  She will have to adapt to a faster game (which all first year players have to experience) and she will have to adapt to moving away from the comforts of home. Kelsey is an extremely mature young woman who will do well at Thompson Rivers and the U SPORTS levels.  The learning curve at the university level will take a bit of time but I am fully confident that Kelsey will be a tremendous addition for TRU in a short period of time-she will do well."

Christian Taylor has been her high school coach at St. Francis the past two seasons.  " Kelsey is very coachable and picks up tactics/schemes quickly. Kelsey works extremely hard on and off the court. She recognizes her weaknesses and tries to get better every day.  As a captain, she was very supportive with all her teammates and always pushed them to do their best."

Cruz's parents, Alex and Christi, exposed her to Canada West/ U SPORTS games at an early age so she is no stranger to the 'university basketball' environment.    "It has always been a goal of mine to compete at the highest level that I can and U SPORTS—although a big adjustment in the speed of play, heightened skills and quick decision making—will make that dream a reality."

She is also looking forward to the challenge of being a part of the WolfPack athletic program's community initiatives. "I really believe that a strong viable community doesn't happen by accident. It is a thoughtful approach to collaboration between the University, its Faculty and students along with community organization that help those in need. I got a good sense of that community commitment during my visit, I am really excited to join the WolfPack as a student athlete and continue my passion for the game, furthering my education and continuing to volunteer where I can have the most impact."

Cruz already does some volunteering in Calgary with the Children's Cottage.

Other announced committed recruits for the upcoming season are, Sydney Schmidt (5'10", forward, Kamloops, BC-Sa-Hali Secondary/Thompson Threat), Jordan Robb (5'10", forward/shooting guard, Kelowna, BC-Okanagan Mission Secondary), and Amira Jensen (5'6" shooting guard, Abbotsford, BC-Robert Bateman Secondary).
 
DOUBLE DRIBBLES: Cruz has high praise for her club program, Vision  Basketball Academy. "I consider myself fortunate and attribute a lot of my success to be coached by Mark Hogan (Basketball Canada),  and Janelle Bekkering (former Canadian women's national team member).  My growth as a player is directly tied to their mentorship and the elite basketball programs they offer in have been running in Calgary.  I am most proud of our AAU tournament win in the USA last year, where we qualified for a spot at the AAU Nationals 2018. I was excited to be invited to the final Alberta U-17 provincial team selection camp as well as to have been a member of the T.A.S. program here in Calgary."

Taylor on Cruz, " Kelsey will add a lot to the TRU team and community with her positive outlook on life and tireless work ethic, she won't miss a beat."
While Hogan says, " She's a great teammate! A great person! Great athlete!  Great Player! At the high school and club level, Kelsey attacks the basket with conviction and is successful in doing so.  She scores well at this level by utilizing her mental toughness, taking full advantage of her athleticism and is able to finish or find an open teammate. At the U SPORTS level, I think Kelsey will soon learn when she can and when she shouldn't attack the basket. Her full-court transition game will serve her well at the post-secondary level. I wish Kelsey all the best in her basketball and athletic career at TRU. I firmly believe she will be a tremendous asset to both Thompson Rivers and the Kamloops community."