Wallis brings love of game to Minnesota State

Hailey Wallis' dreams were clashing with harsh realities.
 
After helping lead Grundy Center to the state championship game earlier this winter, Wallis pushed her basketball commitment to its limits in preparation for her senior year with the Spartans, chasing a dream from her youth of playing college basketball.
 
"In the month of July, it felt like all I was doing was playing basketball," Wallis said. "There was a time where I was like, 'I don't know if I wanna do this.' In a way, I felt burnt out."
 
A post on social media made her look at her situation a different way: Was she tired? Or did Wallis just not remember why she had poured herself into this sport?
 
Wallis reached back into her memories of being younger and dreaming big, finding an understanding of her passions once again.
 
"I do this because I love it," Wallis said. "So when the opportunity came to play at the next level, I jumped on it after realizing that."         
 
Wallis recently announced her commitment to Minnesota State University's women's basketball program.
 
In her junior season with the Spartans, Wallis was a first-team all-state selection, averaging 14.9 points per game with 88 steals and 114 rebounds.
 
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