Polk’s Kropp signs for scholarship at Guilford

Published 10:00 pm Monday, May 30, 2016

Polk County fans, teammates and coaches will all miss Hayley Kropp (front row, center), and her all-out style of basketball play, as the senior has just signed to play basketball for Guilford Technical Community College near Greensboro, on a scholarship. In the front row with Kropp are her parents, Karl and Teresa Kropp. In the back, from left, are Guilford Titans’ head basketball coach, Bobby Allison (not the NASCAR driver); Polk athletic director, Brandon Schweitzer; Titans’ assistant coach, Dejuane Bowe; Polk assistant coaches Stacey Shields and Billy Alm; PCHS head coach, Brandy Alm; and PCHS Principal Mary Feagan.

At Polk County High School, Hayley Kropp’s all-out style of basketball play often set the court on fire, and ignited her teammates as well.

Along the way, Kropp set a Wolverine career scoring mark, extending it considerably before the Wolverines’ most recent season ended. Her efforts and ability have landed her a basketball scholarship to Guilford Technical Community College located in Jamestown, near Greensboro, where she’ll play during the Titans’ 2016/17 season. Kropp inked the paperwork on Wednesday, May 25.

Knowing she’ll be competing on the collegiate level is “a relief” for Kropp. When she started getting looks from college coaches early this past season, she knew she had a chance to take her game to the next level, she said.

“I like Guilford,” Kropp stated.  “I just love the family feel.”

Because it’s a two-year school, from which Kropp has an excellent chance of playing for a four-year school, she’ll take general classes, possibly with an emphasis on physical education.

Among those Kropp has made an impression on is Polk head coach Brandy Alm, for whom Kropp has played since middle school.

Alm was visibly moved to see Kropp move on, praising “the leadership she brought to the team . . . she was invaluable as a leader and player as well. I’m extremely fortunate to coach her.”

At Guilford, Kropp already knows her roommate — her sister, Ashley — who will be a sophomore this fall.