BigVCranW_80740_27.jpg: Renae Mokrzycki is off to the states on a full scholarship from North Idaho College. 80740 Picture: JARROD POTTER
By JARROD POTTER
IT has been a whirlwind six months for Renae Mokrzycki – going from playing domestic basketball at Cranbourne to playing college basketball in America.
Mokrzycki, 18, from Cranbourne, has accepted a full scholarship to North Idaho College to play women’s college basketball for the Cardinals.
Plucked from the Cavaliers junior program earlier this season, Mokrzycki has starred for the Cranbourne Cavaliers women’s team in her first year playing Big V basketball – averaging 15.7 points and 12.1 rebounds per game to lead the Division 2 competition.
With the help of Cranbourne youth championship men’s coach Luke Sunderland, Mokrzycki’s highlight package was shown to prospective US colleges and the reply was staggering – 24 colleges wanted her to play for them.
She chose North Idaho as it was the best fit and gives her a chance to impress scouts and possibly get recruited to a senior college.
“I was thrilled and excited, more so nervous and scared about leaving,” Mokrzycki said.
“The excitement is starting to kick in and I’ve still got a few weeks before I leave.”
Mokrzycki flies to Idaho in the last week of August and despite asking North Idaho to push back her start date, she will miss the Big V finals. However, her input has managed to push Cranbourne up the ladder and within arms-reach of a championship.
All this from a player who at the end of last year wasn’t sure if she’d play representative basketball.
“I didn’t think it was going to happen,” Mokrzycki said. “I didn’t even plan on playing Big V and now I’m going to college within a year.
“I started playing 12 years ago and it has been my dream to play college since I was little. Now it’s sinking in that this is going to be my career.”
The rise of Cranbourne this year has taken a few people by surprise, but Mokrzycki said it all comes down to the way the Cavaliers work on and off the court.
“We’ve worked really, really well as a team, considering this was a new team, considering we don’t have as much experience as the others,” Mokrzycki said.
“We might have lost a couple of other games, but we have a few players up our sleeve.”
Cranbourne coach Mark Holman said Mokrzycki’s superb athleticism and work ethic will one day see her become a supreme talent.
“Her best talent is definitely her athleticism,” Holman said. “Six foot tall and probably one of the best runners over distance – she can jump and creates a lot of trouble with her reach.
“She has got a very good work ethic for such a young girl – always doing everything she can and listening to the coaches to help her improve.
“She has already improved a ton this season and is getting towards being an absolute standout player.”
Mokrzycki wanted to thank Sunderland, her Big V coach Mark Holman, Cranbourne representative coach Tim Park and, most importantly, her mum.
