A Sunny, bright future

Freshman Sunny Greinacher has the height and overseas experience to excel in a Gonzaga uniform. But her stature and experience are not what distinguish Greinacher. It's not her jump shot or her ability to pass. It's her inherent knowledge of the game that lifts her above other talented players. 

"She is just really smart, she know how to play the game really well. She knows how to read defenses. I think girls really struggle with just knowing how to play. Everyone has skills, but to put skills with smarts together," senior forward Kayla Standish said.

Greinacher, a 6-foot-4-inch forward from Essen, Germany, played in Oregon as a foreign exchange student her sophomore year.  While attending Willamette High, Greinacher led her team to a perfect 27-0 record and an Oregon 5A state championship. She also earned individual accolades for the state championship tournament's most outstanding player and 2008-2009 Oregon 5A Player of the Year.

GU head coach Kelly Graves first saw Greinacher play in Oregon. Impressed by her skills, Graves went to see her play in Germany and then in Romania for the European Championships.  

"The coaches actually came over to Germany and visited me there and I really liked the program and what they told me about the style of play, they like to play fast and push the ball," Greinacher said. "The team actually wrote me a letter, every girl on the team wrote me a little note and that was when I felt already at home and comfortable before even being here."

Greinacher played for the German U18 National Team for three years. She averaged 14 points and nearly 11 rebounds the 2010 European Championships in Romania, and in 2009 was named Best Center at the All-European Championships in the U18 Division.  She also earned Most Valuable Player of the U18 Tournament with the German National Team.

"It is definitely completely different from what I experienced at playing overseas in Germany because it is so much more physical, it's pretty tough," Greinacher said.

Beyond the increased level of physicality, Greinacher has also been shocked by the out-pouring of support from the GU and Spokane community.

"Practice is hard, but the good thing is we get so much out of it, the support we get from the community and we have 5,800 fans or something on average for every game and I have never had that before. My first game I came into the gym and the gym was crowded, it's just an amazing feeling," Greinacher said. "I have never had that feeling before and especially for women's basketball getting so much support. It is making it so much more fun because our fans are loud, they are screaming the whole time and they really push us in the games."

In her first season at GU, Greinacher has played the second most minutes by a freshman, behind Taelor Karr, and has averaged 4.8 ppg.

"[She is the] most ready freshman we have ever had as far as understanding of the game. She has played international ball, she is a year older, so she has a lot of positives coming in. She really understands the game, no question about it. You can't teach that," Graves said.

The combination of overseas experience and knowledge of the game has prepared Greinacher to make an instant impact and has created high hopes for the future.  

"Coach has mentioned numerous times that she is the most game-ready freshman he has ever had. I think all of her experience ... has obviously helped her come into college already game-ready," Standish said. "Her skills over the past few months have just skyrocketed, her defense especially. At first, she was just timid and nervous, but now she is just breaking out and she is going to be a phenomenal player."

Greinacher is behind Standish on the depth chart, one of the best post players in the WCC. Greinacher said she is using her time with Standish as an instrument for growth.

"I really try to work on my confidence and on my game. So, when I get the ball in the post to decide quickly what move I want to do," Greinacher said, "I try to look at Kayla because she is a just a great post player and I can learn a lot from her."

Graves said he already sees similarities between the playing styles of Greinacher and Standish.

"She is a lot like Kayla. She can pass it, she can shoot it, put it on the floor. Obviously she has length," Graves said.

Graves said he looks for Greinacher to compliment her midrange shooting with post-move development. Graves said he expects Greinacher to be "matchup nightmare" down the road.

"She is going to be a star here before it's all said and done, she will be one of the greatest Zags we have ever had."