Boys Basketball: Alexandria's Grayson Grove reflects on his 18 years as a Cardinal (2024)

ALEXANDRIA — Grayson Grove took another sip of water from the styrofoam cup before setting it down alongside the other one.

He’d been coughing.

It wasn’t often that he spent an hour being grilled by a reporter who was asking questions about his past, present and future. His voice could be forgiven for struggling through an additional 10 minutes.

Some of the memories made him laugh out loud; some maybe made him wince inside. It was tough to look back on 18 years, tough to try and articulate all the things that made him who he is, tough to try and think of all the small moments that might’ve changed his life.

Over the past couple of months, family and friends had shared stories about a young man who’s an expert on youthful lingo: things like “rizz,” “drip,” and “fanum tax.” Stories about a boy who wouldn’t clean up his baseball gear, so it got tossed in a ditch. Stories about a young boy who absolutely hated his mom’s beet casserole.

Contributed by Grayson Grove

But consistent throughout all of the interviews and storytelling was the picture of a young man who means the world to them.

A young man who has worked hard for everything that he’s achieved. A young man whose gratitude and respect has left an indelible mark on countless coaches, teammates and fans.

When Grayson Grove graduates from Alexandria Area High School on May 31, he’ll officially close the chapter on his time as a Cardinal - though he’ll always be one.

From there he’ll be off to the University of Minnesota where he’ll pursue a business degree while competing for the Golden Gophers basketball team and embracing whatever comes next.

And countless people can’t wait to see how it all happens.

Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press

A highly regarded son, a jovial friend, a humble human, and a prized Division I recruit - this is the gilding of Grayson Grove.

For as long as Pete Grove can remember, his son Grayson just loved to play, to have fun, to laugh.

In the earliest years it was Pete himself out in the front yard tossing a baseball or shooting hoops. But it wasn’t long before the cousins and neighborhood kids joined in and took over the house. To this day, Pete isn’t surprised to hear the front door shut and see a group of Grayson’s friends walk into their home. The Groves have learned to have a few extra oven-bake pizzas on hand, just in case.

“People just gravitate to him,” Pete said. “He’s a fun kid; he’s responsible.”

Part of that is that Grayson has also literally always stood out in a crowd, even at a young age.

Contributed by Grayson Grove

In the third grade, he was already taller than his teacher and family friend, Julie Wrobel.

“Other kids just love a big, tall kid,” Wrobel said.

She chuckled as she remembered playing “balloon volleyball” with her class on Fridays.

“It was like we were competing for the section finals,” Wrobel said. “And I wasn’t going to let the boys beat my little third-grade girls, but, boy, did Grayson make it tough.”

By the fourth and fifth grades, he had already distinguished himself on the basketball court, not just because of his size - but because of how he carried himself on the court and how he played the game.

“He was a man amongst boys,” his fifth-grade coach Jenny Steffensmeier said. “You could already see his ability, but what I really admired was his character and his personality, his leadership. When you have someone of that caliber be that positive, it influences the whole team.”

She noted that at that age, Grayson could’ve completely dominated the games by taking the ball every possession and going straight to the basket. He could’ve been frustrated when young, uncoordinated hands gave him bad entry passes or hucked up an airball, but he was always quick to offer reassurances, quick to offer a second chance. From the middle of the offense, he’d distribute the ball so that everyone had a chance to be involved.

Contributed by Grayson Grove

“And there’s the respect that he gave to me as a coach, not only as a coach, but as a woman coach,” Steffensmeier said. “Sometimes when they're in that age group, you get the eye rolls, but he never had that. And that spoke volumes to the whole group, and it started at the top with him. He set the example; I've always admired that about him. His character will always outshine his athletic ability in my personal opinion. He will always have a very special place in my heart.”

Grayson continued to excel on the court and became the first and only 8th grader to play for Alexandria’s “B-squad/Junior varsity 2 team” under the current coaching staff. He joined coach Tom Miller’s junior varsity as a freshman and logged a few minutes during the varsity team’s state playoff run that year. By his sophom*ore year, he was firmly a varsity player.

Coaches, fans, and teammates eagerly awaited to see what kind of high school player he could be.

Steffensmeier vividly remembers a moment during Grayson’s sophom*ore year when he was trailing her son, Carter, on a fastbreak. Carter tossed a lob off the backboard, and Grayson soared to meet it, secured it, and rocked the rim with a powerful two-handed dunk.

“I remember thinking that he was breaking free,’” Steffensmeier said. “‘Okay, folks, sit back and enjoy because we’re going to have some great years of basketball with Grayson Grove.’ Alexandria was so lucky to have him.”

As Grayson’s stock continued to rise, he remained humble and hard-working. He was still the same fun-loving and respectful kid, but he could “dig in his heels” when a coach challenged him or when the team needed him to make a play.

Contributed by Grayson Grove

However, both he and his dad were actually shocked when it became apparent that Grayson was going to be a Division I athlete. Pete was talking with some coaches at a South Dakota State University basketball camp when one of them suggested that the Jackrabbits wouldn’t be able to land Grayson - he was too good.

“That was the first time in my eyes I realized how high he was headed,” Pete said “I was thinking it’d be cool for him to go to SDSU; I guess I should’ve been dreaming higher.”

Grayson committed to the University of Minnesota on May 13, 2023.

It felt like an easy decision - a school close to home with a staff that had built a meaningful relationship with him and had a clear plan for his development.

He entered his senior year without the pressure of a looming decision hanging over him, but his swan song didn’t quite go as planned.

A lingering ankle injury from the 2023 Section 8AAA finals forced Grayson into surgery that summer. He missed most of the summer basketball season, but it didn’t stop him from hitting the gym - something he took upon himself to elevate his play for the next level. That summer, he put on roughly 30 pounds.

Contributed by Grayson Grove

By the time the 2023-24 school basketball season got underway, expectations for the Cardinals were high, but a series of injuries shook up the team’s core. Grayson himself was sidelined for several weeks as the ankle flared up again.

Despite the physical pain and the frustration of being forced off the court, Grayson said he was able to maintain high spirits because of all the encouragement he received from both coaches at the University of Minnesota and his countless supporters in Alexandria - people like Steffensmeier, Wrobel, and Miller.

Similarly, Grayson wanted to be there for his teammates, even if he couldn’t be on the court.

“He was there at practice, doing what he could behind the scenes to try to stay in shape, and he was there cheering on the team while sitting on the bench during games,” Miller said. “He handled it as gracefully as someone could.”

Fortunately, Grayson was able to return late in the season to help guide the Cardinals to another Section 8AAA title and a state tournament appearance where the team placed fourth.

Contributed by Grayson Grove

“I know we all wish we would have played a little better,” Grayson said. “We know we could’ve won it all; it just didn’t happen. We lost because the other team was just a little better than us on that day. But I am grateful that I got to go to two state tournaments during my time in high school. Those are some amazing memories.”

As the curtain draws to a close on Grayson’s Alexandria career, he’s amazed to look back at all the friendships he’s had - how they’ve changed and grown.

He credits the upperclassmen from his freshman and sophom*ore seasons for helping to mold him into both the player and leader he is now.

“Every time I see Grayson, he's even better than the last time I saw him,” Erik Hedstrom said.

Hedstrom was a senior during Grayson’s first year on varsity. The pair quickly became close friends during summer workouts. Grayson was humbled to see how much Hedstrom and the other players went out of their way to welcome him into the squad and to include him in their off-season activities.

Contributed by Grayson Grove

Hedstrom went on to play for St. John’s University before transferring to Concordia, but as he’s watched Grayson grow over these past couple years, he’s been impressed by how Grayson has picked up the mantle of leadership - how seriously he takes his role not just on the team but also in the community, particularly with the youth - future Cardinals.

“I think he sees himself as just a normal Alexandria kid who enjoys playing basketball and hanging out with friends,” Hedstrom said. “And he just so happens to be very good at basketball. I don't think he sees himself as being special or any different than any one of his friends. But I think he understands the opportunity that he’s been given, and he’s worked really hard for it.”

“He’s had every reason to put himself on a pedestal at times, but he hasn’t done it,” Miller added.

Grayson is quick to point to his parents, his siblings, his friends, and his mentors to show why he is the way he is. They’ve sacrificed countless hours for him and supported him through the highs and the lows. They’ve shown him what it’s like to care for those around them - for him, and he’s immensely grateful.

“You never know what people are going through,” Grayson said. “People deserve to be treated with kindness, with respect. You could be the person that turns a day around for someone.”

He’ll carry that attitude with him next month as he journeys off into the Twin Cities for his next chapter. He’s ready for those new challenges, for those new relationships - but he’ll never forget the ones that made him who he is.