from the time I could walk. I think I pretty much
played it to be like them when I first started, and
then I fell in love with it.
ES: When did you realize you were good enough
to play college basketball?
GB: I think probably when I started getting
recruited, so like eighth grade, around there. The
first coaching staff that I ever talked to was from
Clemson in eighth grade. I didn’t even know
what high school I was going to (at the time).
I didn’t really think much of it, I didn’t think
about college then. My parents and my coaches
did a really good job (controlling the recruiting
process) too.
ES: What did IU do to convince you to become
a Hoosier?
GB: From the first time I stepped foot on campus
I fell in love and felt really comfortable there. I
fell in love with the school and just surrounding
myself with great people, the coaches and other
players too.
ES: Which coach has had the most influence on
your career?
GB: I would have to say my dad (Todd, a St.
Xavier High School graduate who played college
basketball at Transylvania University). He’s had
the biggest impact on me. He always coached me
growing up and he’s always taking me outside
and working on my dribbling and shooting one-
on-one, too. He’s definitely been very influential.
ES: Every year you lead or are near t he team-lead
in rebounding for Sacred Heart, even though
you’re a guard. How are you able to pull down so
many rebounds?
GB: My dad has always really been on me about
rebounds. He doesn’t really care about anything
else but rebounding. I’m just really aggressive
and if you try harder than the other team, you
can get it, especially in high school.
ES: How influential has (Sacred Heart coach)
Donna Moir been for your career?
GB: She obviously has a lot of experience and
she’s taught me a lot for sure. She’s definitely
developed me mentally in the way I think of
the game and helped me with my skills and
basketball IQ as well.
ES: After a frustrating sophomore season,
the Valkyries turned the corner last season to
become Seventh Region champions and make
the Kentucky Sweet 16. What was that experience
like?
GB: It was great but we lost the first round of
state (Sacred Heart fell to fellow Louisville power
Butler, 50-36), so that put a damper on things.
But it was definitely a good experience and I
think we’re excited to carry that momentum into
this season and take what we could have done
differently last season to a state champ this year.
“FROM THE FIRST TIME I
STEPPED FOOT ON
INDIANA UNIVERSITY’S
CAMPUS, I FELL IN
LOVE AND FELT REALLY
COMFORTABLE THERE.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH
THE SCHOOL AND JUST
SURROUNDING MYSELF
WITH GREAT PEOPLE,
THE COACHES AND OTHER
PLAYERS TOO.”
– GRACE BERGER
Moren and her staff been in touch about what
they want you to improve on as well?
GB: Definitely, three pointers was something
they pointed out to me, too, and just getting
stronger and better overall.
ES: With Sacred Heart another year older and
one of the most experienced teams in the state,
do you feel the Valkyries are strong enough to
make a deep run at the Kentucky Sweet 16?
GB: I think we’re the best team in the state, I
think we have the most experience and when
we’re playing together, I don’t think there’s many
teams that can beat us. So, I think we have a good
chance.
ES: Looking ahead, what are your plans for when
you’ll finally head to Bloomington, and what are
you most looking forward to?
GB: I think I’ll leave in June and do summer
workouts for a couple of weeks. I’m just looking
forward to being surrounded by great people
every day. I think they’re going to make me better
on and off the court, and it’s just going to be a lot
of fun to be around them.
ES: Last thing. Is it motivating to see Penn
starting and playing so well at Indiana as a
freshman (Penn has started all 10 of Indiana’s
games, averaging 10 points, six rebounds and
two assists per game)?
GB: Yeah, I hope to have as good a start as Jaelynn
has. I’m just really looking forward to learning
from her and playing with her.
ES: What part of your game did you work on the
most this offseason?
GB: I’d say catch and shoot, especially 3-pointers,
because I didn’t do a very good job last season,
I had a low percentage. That was the area of
my game where I felt I had to improve and it’s
working so far.
ES: Has Indiana women’s basketball coach Teri
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