‘I love winning’: Lexi Blue ready to join Virginia Tech WBB
ORLANDO, Fla. (BVM) – Lake Highland Prep basketball star Alexandra “Lexi” Blue wasn’t always into basketball. She actually played a little bit more of everything else rather than being on the court.
“I actually played everything but basketball, I did dance, cheerleading, tennis, I did a bunch of other things,” Blue said. “I was really girly, if you asked my parents they would’ve told you I never would’ve picked up a basketball. I wanted to be on ‘Dance Moms.’ That was my goal.”
However, once she found the sport, she quickly fell in love and put more effort into it.
“It was just something I loved doing and I happened to be pretty good at it,” Blue said. “I love being on the court, I love being with my teammates…When you love something you want to work at it. The more work I put in, the better I get and the more recognition I get. Really my love for the game has inspired me.”
Though basketball may not have been her main focus in her youth, Blue clearly has a knack for it. After starting her career at Lake Highland Prep as just an eighth grader, the 6-foot wing has risen through the ranks and is listed as the No. 31 prospect in ESPN’s HoopGurlz Class of 2024 rankings. Given her high ranking, Blue held offers from many notable programs including Arizona, Louisville and Tennessee, but she ultimately decided to commit to Virginia Tech on July 20.
“For me it was really the playing style that stood out to me and also the family environment that they have there,” Blue said. “If you look at their offense, they like to move the ball, they like to shoot 3s, they like to do a lot of different things offensively that really drew me in as a player and the style I want to play moving forward. Then the family environment, all the girls were super nice when I was on my visit, just super sweet genuinely good people. That’s just someplace I want to be and people I want to surround myself with.”
Blue should also fit the Hokies‘ offense like a glove. Last year, Blue averaged 12.2 points, five rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 67% from the field and 55% from beyond the arc, going 48-of-86 on 3-point attempts for the Highlanders. This should work for a Virginia Tech team that finished top-50 in the country in scoring offense, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and 3-pointers made per game.
“Offensively, I like to shoot threes, I’m pretty sure everyone knows,” Blue said with a laugh. “I like to shoot 3s, I like to get to the basket, I really like facilitating, that’s a big part of my game.”
Not only does Blue’s style of play work with the Hokies, but she also has the accolades to back up her ability. Thanks to her strong play with the Highlanders, Blue has been recognized as All-Area by the Orlando Sentinel for both her sophomore and junior seasons.
“I think for me I don’t really focus on the accolades stuff, really for me it’s just going out and doing everything I can to help the team win,” Blue said. “It’s always great to be recognized going in with that mindset. I just let things come to me, I’m really just worried about my performance on the floor, winning games and just being a good teammate. It always feels great when you achieve those things but it’s definitely not something I always have on my mind but it’s definitely appreciated.”
What makes this feat even more impressive is that for most of her time with Lake Highland Prep, she has been playing out of position, taking more reps from the post than her natural spot on the wing. This has forced her to adjust her style of play, particularly defensively, though she feels her position versatility will help her at the next level.
“I think a big thing for me, my versatility on defense has definitely grown,” Blue said. “How I was playing defense in the eighth grade versus how I’m going to be playing going into my senior year is going to be different just because I had to guard so many different positions. I think that way I bring a different type of versatility to a team.
“I will mold to whatever a team needs me to be. Whatever position you need me in, whatever shoes you need me to fill, I will try my best to do that.”
Blue’s versatility and ability has helped the Highlanders reach new heights during her time with the team. Over her four years with the program, Blue has helped lead Lake Highland Prep to four consecutive state championships and will be looking to do so again as a senior.
“I’ve always said as soon as I got to Lake Highland and got my first championship, ‘I want to have a full handful,’” Blue said. “That’s something that I said since the start and that’s something I want to get. I’m a very goal-oriented, perfectionist type of person so getting that fifth ring would be huge to me.”
Given her championship pedigree, Blue is excited to help the Hokies continue their winning ways as they come off the best season in program history. Blue wants to bring her infectious winning attitude with her to Blacksburg in hopes of getting Virginia Tech its first national title.
“I love winning so bringing that kind of attitude to everything we do and going out and competing is something that you can expect from me,” Blue said. “Winning games and having fun while doing it I think that is something that is so important, having fun and loving the game while you’re winning.”
