This YAIAA standout thought she was done with basketball. Now, she'll play in college
Bree Grim wasn't completely happy.
As a freshman at Penn State's University Park campus this past fall, she appreciated the education she was getting. She liked her friends. The football games were fun.
But ...
"I felt like there was a piece missing," she said. "I couldn't tell if it was just a feeling or something more."
That missing piece was basketball. After playing from a young age and dominating throughout high school, the Eastern York grad had decided not to pursue playing opportunities at the next level. A couple of months into college, she was starting to regret that decision.
Her feelings didn't change in the following months. But she couldn't prevent herself from thinking: "Is it too late?"
It wasn't. Grim has transferred to York College and will be on the Spartans' roster next season. The college sophomore will be playing alongside a number of former YAIAA standouts and could have a significant role.
Grim knows there will be plenty of work required to get back to the level she's used to playing at. She's already discovered that in recent months. Still, she's happy to put in the effort she thought she was done giving a year ago.
She doesn't feel like anything is missing anymore.
"Playing basketball is where my heart lies," she said. "My life revolves around this sport."
A tough recruitment: 'My body was just done'
Midway through her senior year, Grim started to feel like her body was wearing down.
She had been playing nearly year-round and on an AAU team since fourth grade. The grind was starting to take its toll. Still, she couldn't tell if she needed a brief or permanent break from the sport.
After all, her plan had always been to play college basketball. And the opportunities should've been there. A 5-foot-7 guard who could handle the ball and had impressive 3-point range, Grim was a first-team YAIAA all-star and led Eastern York to a 17-2 record as a junior.
"When I got hired, one of the first things I wanted to do was talk to her about her recruitment," said Eastern York head coach Jason Seitz, who took over before her senior year. "I knew she wanted to play at the next level and basketball was such a part of her whole life.
"I had her pegged as a Division II-type player. There's no question she could play DII."
But Grim entered her senior year in the fall of 2021 — when the pandemic was still affecting college recruiting. The NCAA had extended an extra year of eligibility to all current athletes, which reduced roster spots for incoming players.
Grim had one visit to Lock Haven but mostly received interest from Division III schools. She didn't have a problem with playing at that level, but the frustrations from the recruitment process made her doubt her abilities.
She passed the 1,000-career point mark as Eastern York won another YAIAA Division II title and advanced to the state playoffs. She began to think that would be a fitting end to her career.
"I don't know how to word it. My body was just done," Grim said. "There were Division III schools I could've gone to, but it was a back and forth decision. I just kinda thought my playing time was over, and I had given it my all."
Realizing her heart is with basketball
Attending Penn State was a culture shock for Grim.
Her senior class at Eastern York had around 150 people in it. Now she was in classes with over 500 people. She began thinking a small school would be a better fit for her.
She also missed the competitive drive that basketball gave her. Around Thanksgiving, she brought up her feelings to her parents.
By April, she knew she wanted to play again.
"Having something drive me other than academics really helps me," she said. "And I love my family getting to come watch me play. Their support has been so important."
She reached out to Seitz — who wasn't surprised his former star wanted to get back on the court. He relayed the message to York College head coach Betsy Witman, who had recruited Grim the previous year. The longtime Spartans leader and Hanover High School legend was still interested in adding Grim to the roster.
Grim will be joining a team coming off a 10-15 season and having lost its top player, former Delone Catholic star Bradi Zumbrum, to graduation. But the Spartans have a number of York County natives including York Suburban grad Alyssa Hocker, Spring Grove grad Brooklyn Naylor and Central York grad Georgia Panopoulos.
She should have the chance to compete for playing time right away.
"She's going to make any program better," Seitz said. "She's a competitor, a gamer. They're lucky to have her."
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Still, Grim acknowledged she has a lot of rust to shake off. After a year off from lifting weights, she's been trying to regain much of her previous strength. She's also been training with other York College players at Spooky Nook lately.
Regardless of how the next few years play out, Grim is happy she gave herself another chance to play.
"It's worth taking a shot," said Grim, who will continue to study advertising at York College. "If this is where my heart lies, then I want to go forward with it."
Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on Twitter at @bad2theallibone.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Eastern York grad Bree Grim joins York College women's basketball team
