Todd Rose | Daily Press Aspen Fredrick sits with her parents Tonna Fredrick (mom) and Dawson Fredrick (dad) and Broncos assistant coach Ryan Lippens (left behind) Tuesday at the Bark River-Harris High School.

HARRIS — Aspen Fredrick will be a Knight next year on the basketball court after she signed her national letter of intent to attend and play basketball at St. Norbert College Thursday morning in the Bark River-Harris gymnasium.

“I’m really excited, and I’m just really thankful,” Fredrick said. “I just can’t wait to start.”

The opportunity for Fredrick to join the St. Norbert team came when the St. Norbert coach saw her play in person at an Amateur Athletic Union tournament.

“I had an AAU basketball tournament, and the coach was there,” Fredrick said. “After the tournament, she reached out to me, and she said that she was interested. And I was interested. We just met up, and it really felt right.”

While Fredrick noted there were several other schools she had been interested in, once the offer from St. Norbert came, the decision was clear.

“There was a few (schools),” she said. “But I knew once they reached out to me, that’s where I wanted to go.”

In the classroom, Fredrick will be beginning her studies in Pre-Med, and from there, she’ll see how she feels about the next step.

As she put it, “I’ll work on that and see what I feel.”

As she prepares to head to De Pere, Wis. for her next step in school, sports and life, Fredrick is excited about the opportunity that St. Norbert provides for her to grow in all three aspects.

“I’m really excited to play with the team, obviously. They’re a really good team,” she said. “I’m just excited to grow as a player, as a person and they have a really good school, so I’m excited to get a good education.”

Between her solid grades at school and her added experience of AAU basketball, Fredrick feels good about the transition to the next level of education and sport.

Fredrick also showed her gratitude for those that have supported her along the way to her college signing.

“Just thank you to my family, friend, my past coaches and just everyone that’s helped me along the way,” she said.

Both of Fredrick’s coaches from the Bark River program — head coach Matt Richer and assistant coach Ryan Lippens — shared their excitement for Fredrick and described her as a hard worker and leader.

“Aspen is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever had and is just always nonstop,” Richer commented. “She has been our defense stopper for a couple years. She has really worked hard playing AAU to improve her game. (She was an) all defense player last year in the Skyline and is going to be one of the best players this year I think in the UP.

“She is a leader on and off the court that the other players look up to.”

Richer’s thoughts were echoed by Lippens.

“(We are) very excited. She’s a really hard worker,” Lippens said. “She deserves this. She does a lot for our team. … (She’s) a good player all around. She (has been) a two-year starter for us, a three-year player, and a very good role player for us.

“She’s going to be very vital to our team this year.”

Lippens added that St. Norbert is fortunate to have Fredrick joining their community as a student and player.

“They’re very lucky,” he said. “She’s a hard worker like I said. Shen does well on and off the court, and she’s a leader of our team. It’s very well deserved. They’re getting a very good, hard, player.”