Lexi Blue won five straight state high school championships and hopes to bring that winning culture with her to UK. (UK Athletics Photo)
She might have the perfect name to be a Kentucky basketball player but incoming freshman Alexandra “Lexi” Blue didn’t always envision herself being a college basketball player.
“I played everything but basketball. I did dance, cheerleading, tumbling, tennis. I did a bunch of things,” Blue said. “I was really, really girly. I wanted to be on ‘Dance Moms.’ If you had told my dad I would choose basketball, he would have thought you were crazy. He probably never even thought I would pick up a basketball.
“My dad played basketball and kind of introduced me to it. I don’t remember exactly when that was but once I got it, I wanted to keep rolling with it and happened to be pretty good at it. When you love something, you don’t mind working at it. The more I worked, the better I got.”
Blue is Kentucky’s highest-ranked incoming freshman since Treasure Hunt, who was a five-star guard and top-10 prospect in the Class of 2020. The 6-2 Blue is ranked No. 11 by All-Star Girls Report and is a consensus top 30 recruit after averaging 13.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game as a senior at Lake Highland Prep in Orlando, Fla.
“Rankings are not something I pay attention to. It is nice to be recognized but I just try to make myself the best person and best player I can be,” Blue said.
In her five seasons at Lake Highland Prep, she had 1,360 points, 196 3-pointers, 504 rebounds, 187 assists, 99 steals and 43 blocks and helped the Highlanders win five straight state championships.
“I got to play varsity early and played several different roles on our teams. I got to play with some amazing players and hope I can bring that winning culture to UK. We played team basketball. My goal is always winning and not personal accolades,” she said. “I learned how to be an efficient player. I am a wing but I had to play post and learn different angles, get better at rebounding and boxing out, guarding bigger players.
“I just had to work on everything. I was constantly staying in the gym because that’s something I love to do.”
Blue signed with coach Kenny Brooks at Virginia Tech but immediately opted to join him at Kentucky when he changed jobs. She did so without making a visit to Lexington because she “trusted the process” and was impressed immediately by the “welcoming” feeling she got from UK fans.
“Coach Brooks is a great guy. He just has an ability to really connect with his players and help you in different ways on and off the court,” she said. “When he told me he was going to Kentucky, I wanted to be part of that and go with him. Other schools reached out but I had to figure out what was best for me and I had fallen in love with coach Brooks and all he does.”
She understood Brooks would have to put the pieces of a puzzle together to build his first UK roster but didn’t worry about what her role might be.
“Where he needs me is where I will play. Ballhandling, shooting, rebounding … I will try to fill as many roles as coach Brooks needs,” she said.
Brooks is glad she will be part of his first team and knows what her versatile skill set can mean to the team.
“She didn’t take long to decide to be part of BBN. She had committed to us (at Virginia Tech). We had to tell her we were leaving and immediately she said she wanted to come,” Brooks said. “I think BBN is going to love her.
“She shoots exceptionally well. She has great size for her position. I like to surround bigs with great shooters, but she can rebound and protect the paint if we need that. Once she gets acclimated to college basketball she will be a tremendous asset with her skill set. She is a very smart basketball player as well that we are lucky to have.”
And she does have the perfect Kentucky basketball name.
“Alexandra, no one calls me that,” the incoming freshman said. “I thought Big Blue Nation and Blue did fit. When I was looking at comments after I committed, Lexi in Lexington kept popping up. It fits perfectly.”
It could also be the perfect marketing slogan for NIL purposes, too.
“I hope so. I definitely would be interested in any way that might work out,” she said.
3 Responses
Her stats are very low for being such a high recruit. She must be a winner because she was wanted by a ton of schools. I wish her luck. We are going to need her for the next 4 years. Trust the process you will shine when your number is called. She really has the perfect name. That would be a nice tshirt seller at the games. Very beautiful lady and skilled at everything we are roofing for "yall" this year.
She played on a very talented team that won five straight state titles and also played out of position but her stats have her ranked as one of top 15 players in the nation
Neighborhood girl, went to expensive prep school – hear nothing but great things about her !