Kreykes finds ‘happier’ home at Trinity Christian
Illiana Christian product started out at St. Xavier but lands with Trolls after second transfer.
Now playing for her third college, senior guard Gabby Kreykes believes she has found a home at Trinity Christian.
“I finally feel like I’ve found a college that I want to be at,” Kreykes said. “I probably should have came here a lot sooner, but that’s OK. I’m happy to be here now and I’m very thankful I made the decision to come here.”
The Trolls are just as grateful to have her leading the way. Kreykes, an Illiana Christian graduate who’s from St. John, Indiana, is averaging 20.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals in her first season with Trinity (3-5).
“She has made a huge impact,” Trinity coach Theo Owens said of Kreykes. “She’s been able to use her athleticism to her advantage. She’s in the gym every day after practice putting in that extra time. She’s always trying to get better.
“She’s not afraid of work. She’s not afraid to become great.”
Kreykes has had a pair of 30-point performances, including one in Wednesday’s 80-57 loss to Governors State.
That huge scoring outburst came despite her going just 1-for-4 on 3-pointers.
“I wasn’t feeling the best with my shot,” she said. “I was getting good rebounds and putting them back up. It was more short shots. It wasn’t necessarily that my shot was feeling great, but my layups were feeling OK.
“I’ve kind of always played like that — kind of in and out. I’ve played my best my entire life when I’m able to post up and play outside.”
Kreykes played the first two seasons of her college career at St. Xavier. As a sophomore in 2018-19, she averaged 15.6 points and was named second team allconference by the CCAC.
After that season — and following the retirement of coach Bob Hallberg and hiring of Corry Irvin as his replacement — Kreykes decided to transfer to Dordt in Iowa.
She averaged 5.5 points as a reserve at Dordt, but longed to come back home.
“My dad (Ken) teaches at Chicago Christian, so he’s super close,” Kreykes said. “I don’t regret transferring the second time. Maybe that first one a little bit, but now I understand it’s the Lord’s plan and not my own.
“I’ve learned something at every stop. I’ve played for different coaches with different styles, and it’s interesting how I’m connecting all the dots now to benefit my own game.”
As the newbie who has taken over as the team’s scoring leader and the player who has the ball in her hands most often, Kreykes has not felt any resentment from her teammates.
It’s been quite the opposite.
“I feel like this team was very welcoming to me,” she said. “I love them dearly.
“I try to be a leader. I’m not the most vocal person on the court. I’m not about to yell at them or anything, but my leadership comes from just working hard on the court and setting that example and hoping the other girls follow it. I think they are doing that.”
Owens has seen how well Kreykes has fit in with the Trolls.
“She’s jelled right in with the girls,” he said. “They’ve embraced her and she’s embraced the girls. It’s been a smooth transition. The girls encourage her. They look for her.”
Kreykes, indeed, feels right at home. “It’s not all about basketball,” she said. “I am happier in my personal life here than at the other colleges. But I think having things get better in that regard is helping me on the basketball court, too.”