It was an accomplishment for Humboldt’s Paige Crozon just to step on the court this past winter.
The daughter of Leanne and Gary Crozon had her entire 2013-2014 basketball season at the University of Utah scuttled by an injury. After thinking at one point that she had concussion symptoms, Crozon had to rehab from a muscular and nerve injury.
“After coming back from a season-ending injury the previous year, it was great just to be back on the court,” wrote Crozon in an Internet interview. “I definitely had a new appreciation for the game. Also, being in the PAC-12 conference, each of our games brought a new challenge for our team and every night it was very competitive, which is what I love about playing basketball.”
Crozon did more than just return to the court. While competing at the NCAA Division I level, the highest in U.S college sports, the multi-talented 6-foot-1 guard started 18 of the 23 games she played. Crozon averaged six points a game. She dropped a career-high 14 points on the University of Southern California. Crozon finished third on the team in field goal percentage (412) and three-point shooting (.338 shooting). She averaged 2.6 rebounds a game and twice grabbed six caroms.
In May, Crozon was back in Humboldt for a quick visit. She soon after returned to Utah to work out, train, and take summer classes as she pursues a double major in business and health education. While in Humboldt, Crozon had an opportunity to catch up with family and friends, including Kerri Archibald, one of her former coaches at Humboldt Collegiate Institute.
“What was most impressive about Paige was her dedication and work ethic,” wrote Archibald, who coached Crozon for four years, in an email interview about the student-athlete’s time at HCI. “She spent countless hours in the gym working on getting better, taking hundreds of shots a day, working on speed, strength, agility, etc. and many trips to Saskatoon to participate with the Junior huskies and provincial team programs. While her basketball skills never went unnoticed and she could play any position on the floor, I believe it is her strong character and positive attitude that gave her the ‘x-factor’ that has allowed her to get to the next level and made her so attractive to scouts.
“I had lunch with Paige (recently) and she has stayed true to those characteristics even with all her success and adversity in her three years at Utah.”
Sitting out what would have been her second season at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City was definitely a challenging and, at times, frustrating experience for Crozon.
“I tried to keep perspective during that time and realized that feeling sorry for myself wouldn’t make the situation any better,” she wrote.
Crozon was quick to praise her parents for helping her get through it.
“I have always had a great support system from the community of Humboldt and my family,” wrote Crozon, who is also supported by her sister Taylor who played basketball at the University of Lethbridge. “My family was able to make the trip to Salt Lake City a couple times last year and I think it very exciting for them to see me back on the court.”
She made the most of her time watching her Utes teammates compete without her.
“Having to sit out for a year forced me to become a student of the game,” Crozon wrote. “I had a better understanding of basketball, which I think helped me when I returned to play. I learned the most in the year that I sat out.”
Sitting is not something Crozon is used to. While growing up in Humboldt, she starred in many sports. The University of Utah websites states that Crozon has won provincial championships in basketball, volleyball, high jump, discus, hockey, and speed swimming. She once scored more than 50 points in the finals of the Moose Jaw invitational tournament in Grade 11, Archibald pointed out. Crozon said that Archibald and fellow HCI coach Kevin Grieman had an impact on her career as did other coaches in various sports over the years.
“I was very lucky to have a great support system with the entire staff at the high school, St. Dominic and all my teammates at HCI,” she wrote.
The former two-time HCI basketball team captain and three-time member of Team Saskatchewan has also suited up for Team Canada. Crozon’s experience with Team Canada included the 2012 U18 World Championship for Women, the 2011 U19 World Championship for Women, the 2011 Pan-Am Games, the 2010 U17 World Championship for Women, and the 3x3 World Championships. She hopes to play for Team Canada again one day and plans to keep playing the game she loves.
“What keeps me playing basketball is a genuine passion for the game. I have always loved playing.”
