Todd Rose | Daily Press Alaina Trudeau (front, center) with parents Kris (left) and Dave (right), sister Macy (back, left) and grandmother Judy Panula (back, right) after signing her letter of intent to play basketball at Bay College next year, Tuesday afternoon in Gladstone.

By Todd Rose

trose@dailypress.net

GLADSTONE — Gladstone’s Alaina Trudeau basketball talents will be staying close to home after she signed her letter of intent to join the Bay College Norse basketball team, Tuesday afternoon in Gladstone.

“I’m very excited,” said Trudeau. “It’s still close to home, so I’ll have my family and close friends be able to watch me.”

While there were other colleges that Trudeau had been interested in, it was Bay’s location and coaching staff that really stuck out to her.

“I just thought Bay was the right decision for me,” she said. “It was close to home, I really liked coach Gregory and I’ll save money living closer to home.”

On the schooling side of things, Trudeau is interested in two aspects of the medical field — radiology and pharmacy — though she has yet to decide which she will pursue.

Though she expects college life to be a bit different from high school, Trudeau already has an idea of what to expect.

“I’ve already taken a lot of Bay classes,” she said. “So, I already know what they are and how they run … It won’t be as difficult as, like, moving to somewhere where I have no idea what’s going on.”

Trudeau is most excited about the opportunity to continue her basketball career with the Norse, a goal she’s always had.

“I’ve been playing basketball since third grade, and something I’ve always wanted is to keep my basketball career going in college,” she said. “It’s exciting that I’ve finally met that goal.”

Though the Braves basketball season came to an end Monday night in a district opener, Trudeau was happy to get one last year with her Gladstone teammates.

“It was really exciting (to get to play) because we didn’t even think we were going to have a season,” she said. “It was just great to get more minutes in and more opportunities.

“I want to thank all of my family and friends and past coaches like coach Cretens, coach Griebel (and) my dad. And (I want to thank) coach Gregory for giving me this opportunity and coach Mariah Dunham for helping me get recruited.”

Braves coach Andy Cretens sees Bay as a great place for Trudeau to continue her basketball career.

“I think she’s a perfect fit for Bay College,” Cretens said. “We’re super excited for her and her family to watch her grow as a player and a person. I’m excited that she is excited about her decision and really comfortable with her decision.”

According to Cretens, the Norse will be gaining a great leader on and off the court.

“(They are) very lucky,” he said. “The character part of things, they’re gaining a great leader. As a coach, that’s something you can’t measure.

“Basketball-wise, she is very intelligent and has a high basketball IQ that can put points on the board … She’s one of those utility players that she can figure it out on her own. Coach Gregory is really going to enjoy that part of her.”

Norse coach Matt Gregory — who has had Trudeau on his radar since the end of her junior season — is excited to finally have her join his team.

“She’s just one of those players that goes out and works hard and does the right things that we’re looking for to move this program forward,” Gregory said. “She kind of stood out doing those little things that we want to be working on day in and day out, playing tough defense, being a great team player and a great teammate as well. Those are very, very, high qualities I look for in a player, and Alaina has those qualities.

“We’re very excited to have her … It’s great to have a hometown kid to represent the U.P.”