Former Utah women’s basketball star and recent graduate Paige Crozon is taking her talents to Germany. Crozon’s professional career will start with the Saarlouis Royals. The elite scorer made the announcement via Twitter on Tuesday.
It's official!! I'm excited to be starting my professional basketball career in Saarlouis, Germany! pic.twitter.com/uv96wo9PHU
— Paige Crozon (@pmc14_) June 27, 2017
According to a press release sent out by the university, “Crozon signed a one-year contract with the Royals. The team plays in the Damen-Basketball-Bundesliga (DBBL), which is the highest division of professional women’s basketball in Germany, winning two national league and three national cup titles between 2008 and 2010.”
Crozon said she is excited for the new opportunity and plans to fully immerse herself into the learning the culture.
“It was a little nerve wracking at first because change can be a little scary with the unknown,” said Crozon.
After playing in 117 career games for Utah, Crozon will look to take her quick release and defensive toughness with her to Saarlouis. Crozon started in all 31 games last season, which totaled 92 throughout her time in the Crimson and White.
“I feel so fortunate to have been able to coach Paige these last two seasons,” head coach Lynne Roberts said. “Not only was she an absolute stand out for us on the court as an All-Pac-12 player, but she was an even better person. She made Utah women’s basketball better and I know she will do the same wherever she plays.”
Knocking down a team-high 50 three-pointers during the 2016-17 season, Crozon has earned bragging rights. Those 50 three-pointers put her in the top-12 in the Pac-12 conference. She was ranked in the top-five in the conference in free throw percentage (.827) and wrapped up her career shooting 83.8-percent from the charity stripe to rank No. 3 all-time in the Ute’s career records.
If that’s not enough, Crozon scored in double digits in 48 games during her time in Salt Lake City, joining the elite 1,000-point club during the 2016-17 season with a pair of free throws against UC Davis in the WNIT. She is one of 27 Utes to reach the milestone, scoring 1,003.
“Paige’s new coaches and teammates in Germany are extremely lucky to have her join their program,” Roberts said. “We miss having her on our team, but she will forever be an all-time great Ute.”
Crozon will enter her professional career with some international basketball experience on her resume after playing with the Canadian National Team on the U19, U18 and U17 World Championship teams and at the Pan-Am Games in 2011.
After spending time with the Canadian National Development Team this past month, she is set to play in the 2017 FISU Games in Taipei, Taiwan with team Canada this summer. With the professional experience under her belt, Crozon should be able to make an immediate impact for the Royals.
“When I signed my contract, the coaches asked of me for two things, to be a three-point shooter and a rebounder,” Crozon said. “I was excited because those are two of my favorite things and two areas that I feel I had a lot of success in at Utah.”
“I had the best college experience imaginable and I wouldn’t change anything about it. Playing in the Pac-12 and against some of the best competition in the world will provide a lot of experience for me moving overseas and I can’t wait to start this new journey.”