Justin St. Ours | Daily Press Escanaba senior Nicole Kamin (left bottom) signs her letter-of-intent to play basketball at Grand Valley State University Wednesday. She is joined by her brother Craig Kamin (left top), father Rodney Kamin (right top) and mother Michele Kamin (right bottom).

ESCANABA — An Eskymo became the second U.P. girls’ basketball player in less than an hour to signify her intent to attend Grand Valley State University with a signature.

Nicole Kamin signed and sealed her letter-of-intent to play at the Division 2 university Wednesday at the Escanaba Senior High School.

Kamin first entered the radar of Grand Valley scouts during an AAU tournament downstate.

“It started with AAU and going downstate and playing in some tournaments,” she said. “The Grand Valley coaches saw me play and gave me a call.

“tThey wanted me to come visit campus.”

It only took one visit to campus, and the 2019 All-U.P. Dream Team honoree was hooked.

“I went for the visit and it was so beautiful there, and I loved all the players; the coaches were super nice,” she said. “That was definitely a big part of it.

“There were some other options, but I really loved Grand Valley. So, that’s what I decided.”

As for a major, Kamin is still undecided but has a few options in mind.

“I’m not really sure (what I’m going to major in yet),” she said. “I’m looking into health and information management, but I don’t really know yet.”

Cross-town rival and friend, Gladstone’s Megan Crow will also be joining Kamin at Grand Valley.

“It’ll be really nice to have (another local person) down there,” she said. “I love Megan, and it’ll be nice to make our road trips down there and play with her.”

In fact, it was one of the Esky-Gladstone games last year (Dec. 27) — where Kamin kept adding to her 19.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game average — that helped Crow decide to join with the Lakers when coaches from the school came up to spectate.

And, it’s not just athleticism. Despite her modesty, her coach and athletic director were united in their praise for her behavior on and off the court.

“I’m so happy for Nicole,” basketball coach Mike Beveridge said. “She’s a blessed individual. She’s got so much talent, and she’s a great person. I’m glad to see her pursuing it, and she’ll do well.

“You couldn’t ask for a better student-athlete. She’s just top-notch, and I’ve known her since the fifth grade. Her character, her work ethic is tops. They’re very lucky to get a young lady like her.”

Esky AD Tony Perino expanded on Kamin and the whole signing event.

“These days are why you work 14 and 16 days and beyond that,” he said. “Student-athletes like Nicole are people who are really deserving of this. I just couldn’t be more proud of her.

“I’ve gotten to know her as a person, and she’s probably one of the most unselfish athletes you could have. Very humble. One of our coaches said it best today: ‘It’s not her athletic talent, it’s the fact that she’s so coachable.’

“For her, the sky’s the limit, and I’m excited to see what she has in store because we still have volleyball, basketball and softball to watch her in, but post-high school. I really look forward to watching her at Grand Valley. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”