Lexi Branham, Hamilton Heights’ senior, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Indiana Tech Warriors in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this fall. Indiana Tech is a comprehensive, private, not-for-profit university founded in 1930. Most Tech teams participate in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC). She is the daughter of Danny and Tina Branham.
“I really enjoyed the girls on the team, the coaching staff and the head of the exercise science department,” said Lexi Branham, of her visit to the Indiana Tech campus. Branham, who has been passionate about playing basketball from the time she could pick up a ball, wasn’t ready to give up her game at the end of her senior year. “The opportunity to be a part of the Warriors team while pursuing a degree in exercise science is a dream come true,” she added. From there she plans to attend graduate school to study physical therapy with the goal of working as a physical therapist in sports medicine or at a veteran’s facility.
Branham, a four-year member of the Lady Huskies Basketball team, made valuable contributions as a point guard during her tenure. She received an All-Conference Honorable Mention for two years and named a High School All American from the National Strength and Training Association.
“I started playing basketball at around age four,” Branham explained. “I played on school, inhouse, and travel teams. I joined the Indiana Flight’s AAU team with Mike Duke. My freshman year in high school, I spent a lot of time in the gym, lifted weights and successfully recovered from two back to back ACL surgeries to get back in the game as soon as possible.”
Branham credits all her coaches throughout her playing career as having a major influence in the player and person she has become. It was through their support, guidance, practices, training and rehabilitation that helped her be in the position to play at the college level. “Mostly, she continued, “it has been my dad, who was my coach for many years, and taught me to be the strong competitor I am today.”
“Lexi has been such a joy to watch play basketball ever since she was in kindergarten and attended the basketball camps way back when I coached girls’ basketball,” said Hamilton Heights Athletic Director Kurt Ogden. “You could tell, even at that early of an age, that she was going to be a great athlete. But she’s not just a great athlete…she’s a great kid too. We’re going to miss having her involved with our basketball program because of the leadership she has provided the past four years. We wish her the best as she continues her career at Indiana Tech.”
“I could not be more proud of a student athlete than I am of Lexi Branham,” said Coach Keegan Cherry, Hamilton Heights Varsity Girls Basketball. “Lexi is the face of courage, hard work and dedication. Indiana Tech is getting one of our finest. Lexi’s determination combined with her mental toughness through injury has truly paid off. It has been a tremendous honor to coach Lexi and I’m confident she will excel at Indiana Tech both in the classroom and on the court – Lexi is a winner!”
Branham is a member of Student Government (president of the student body), National Honor Society, Key Club, Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and volunteer and board member of the Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank.
Hamilton Heights’ senior Lexi Branham has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, Indiana. First row (l-r): Heights junior varsity coach Meg Hite, Indiana Tech coach James Jenkins, Heights head varsity coach Keegan Cherry, Heights assistant coaches Kevin Cherry and Susan Lester. (Photo courtesy Hamilton Heights)