Griffitts selects hoops at Weber

Coeur d’Alene High two-sport standout Jenna Griffitts has finally decided which sport to play in college.

Griffitts, who wavered back and forth between basketball and volleyball the past year, has chosen basketball. The 5-foot-10 wing gave an oral commitment to Weber State on Monday after visiting the Ogden, Utah, school during the weekend.

She tried calling Weber State coach Carla Taylor before flying from Salt Lake City to Spokane on Monday, but couldn’t get through before her plane took off.

“I had to wait the entire flight until we landed in Spokane,” Griffitts said of calling Taylor to make a commitment. “The whole weekend was perfect. There wasn’t one thing I didn’t like about it.”

Griffitts led the Vikings to Inland Empire League and Region I championships. The Vikings, who took fourth at state, finished 21-4.

She started at CdA as a freshman and sophomore before she moved with her family to Scottsdale, Ariz., for her junior year. She opted not to play high school basketball in Arizona, choosing instead to play club volleyball. Up until the recent basketball season, she was considering playing both sports in college.

“(Basketball) is my passion,” Griffitts said.

She chose Weber State over the University of Idaho and Eastern Washington. She made visits to all three schools.

“I can’t believe this day came,” Griffitts said. “It’s a huge weight off my shoulders. I wanted to go farther away from home (than staying in the area).”

She averaged a team-high 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds this season. She also led in free-throw shooting percentage (82 percent, 118 out of 144).

Griffitts said she will play wing at Weber State. The Wildcats finished 21-8 overall and second in the Big Sky Conference (11-3), losing to conference champ and perennial power Montana in the Big Sky tournament final.

Former CdA girls coach Sheila Sharp, a CdA graduate who teaches at her alma mater, played at Weber State. Griffitts said Sharp had a big influence on her decision.

“She was a large part of the recruiting process,” Griffitts said.

CdA coach Dale Poffenroth, who took over at CdA this year after a successful career at Central Valley, thought Griffitts would take more time before making her decision.

“I thought she was going to come home and make another visit,” Poffenroth said. “She seems very excited about it. Her comparisons (between schools) seemed to be some logical comparisons.”

Poffenroth looks forward to following Griffitts’ career in college.

“She’s as good an athlete as I’ve coached,” said Poffenroth, who coached several standout athletes in 17 years at CV, where three teams won state titles. “She’s going to become a very good college player. I don’t think there’s a better player (in Idaho). Everybody is partial to their own players, but she can hold her own with anybody.”

Griffitts said she will sign a letter of intent during a late signing period next month. She said a Weber State assistant saw her play at state and contacted her soon thereafter.

“I felt at home there,” Griffitts said. “They’ve had a very competitive program. This is an unbelievable opportunity.”