Carroll star Shields makes commitment

A recent coaching change at Boston College could have led Kerri Shields, Archbishop Carroll's standout point guard, to sour on playing for the Eagles.

And there was the obvious attraction to nearby St. Joseph's. Her mother, Renie, played basketball for the Hawks and is now the school's director of compliance services.

But a recent two-day visit with Sylvia Crawley, the Eagles' new boss, kept the program atop Kerri Shields' list, and Shields orally committed to play for the Eagles.

"It set me back a little bit," Shields said of the coaching change. "But I really like the new coach. She's a nice woman, seems to have a good vision for the future. It still was the best fit for me."

Crawley, 35, played at North Carolina and was the head coach at Ohio University the last two years. She replaced Cathy Inglese, who retired April 10 after compiling a 273-179 record in 15 seasons.

Shields, a 5-foot-10 junior, chose Boston College over St. Joseph's, Connecticut, Vanderbilt and Villanova.

Did her mother try to sway her toward Hawk Hill?

"She completely backed away from the whole decision process," Shields said. "She knew it was my decision. She was going to be happy with whichever way I went."

Last season, Shields averaged 11.2 points and 4.1 assists per game in leading the Patriots to a 19-8 record and the area's No. 2 ranking. She was a first-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania selection by The Inquirer.