BOALSBURG — As the daughter of a former Penn State standout and pro player, it was only natural that Naomi Crispin would take up basketball — eventually.
“I grew up around the game,” Crispin said, “but I began taking it seriously around seventh grade.”
In a short time, Crispin has come a long way. The 5-foot 5-inches tall sophomore guard became Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy’s first-ever all-state girls basketball honoree when she was announced as a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Writers squad, picked in a statewide poll of commonwealth print media on Friday, April 26.
“I feel honored to be selected among a group of great players. I am thankful that I have been rewarded for my hard work,” Crispin said.
Crispin made the Class 1A second team, along with District 6 rivals Ayla Hileman and LeeAnna Royer of Williamsburg. D6 was the cream of the crop this season, with Williamsburg falling to eventual PIAA champion Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic, who beat Williamsburg in both the district finals and state semifinals. Bishop Guilfoyle’s Morgan Ruggery made the third team, and her coach, Kristi Kaack, was named the Pennsylvania Sports Writers’ Class 1A All-State Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.
Crispin is the first Centre County girls basketball player to make all-state since State College’s Maya Bokunewicz in 2020. Bokunewicz went on to play college ball at Texas Christian.
“I was just thrilled for Naomi, for the program and for the school,” WolfPack coach Bethany Irwin said. “She played like she fell in love with the game, which is nice to see. She is such a good person, easy to coach. I’m thrilled for her successes.”
The daughter of former Penn State men’s basketball standout and current Nittany Lion assistant coach Joe Crispin and Penn State women’s soccer player Erin Cochran Crispin, Naomi Crispin transferred from New Jersey and had an immediate impact, winning the Tri-Valley Athletic Association most valuable player award while leading St. Joseph’s to a 25-3 record, a league title and a berth in the state tournament.
The WolfPack was 0-17 last year.
“The biggest challenge of this year was joining a new team and learning my teammates’ strengths and weaknesses. I would describe my game as aggressive offensively and defensively. I like to be on the attack to score and create for my teammates,” the younger Crispin said. “One of my favorite players to watch is Georgia Amoore from Kentucky, originally at Virginia Tech. Some of my favorite aspects of her game are her quick handles, court vision and tough shots and finishes.”
Crispin’s favorite subject is math because she likes to solve problems, which carried over with the way she solved problems on the court, piling up numbers for her team.
She averaged 20.4 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 steals, connecting on 85 3-pointers and shooting 37.5% behind the arc.
Crispin led the Tri Valley Athletic Association in scoring, assists and steals, and was second in free throw percentage and 3-pointers.
She had back-to-back 30-point games against Newport and Upper Dauphin late in the year and scored at least 20 points 13 times.
“Naomi is a student of the game. She watches so much game film, not just watching herself and how she can improve but also watching opponents,” Irwin said.
A former Penn State star herself, Irwin admired Crispin off the court — a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Crispin led the WolfPack in team prayer before each contest.
Crispin also plays soccer.
Still, Crispin doesn’t have any plans on allowing the recognition to go to her head.
“Making all-state, while a great accomplishment, will not change my work ethic or my future goals in the game of basketball,” Crispin said.
