11 Nov 2015 Conway High's Tolefree signs to play at UCA

by Sonja J. Keith                

Since she has played on the Conway Bears Basketball Team, it was only fitting that Conway High Lady Cat Alexis Tolefree would sign to play with the University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears.

Teammates, coaches, friends and family attended the signing ceremony, held Wednesday afternoon on the basketball floor at Buzz Bolding Arena at Conway High School.

“We are really excited that Lex has chosen to play for the University of Central Arkansas,” said Conway High Coach Ashley Nance. “We love the fact she will be staying in Conway and being able to watch most of her basketball games is exciting for the Wampus Cat community. Today, the UCA Women’s Basketball program gained a lot of fans!”

Described as a “gym rat” by Nance, Alexis has played basketball since the second grade. She said she enjoys meeting being on a team and making connections with teammates while “giving it your all” on game nights. She plays shooting guard/point guard.

Alexis considered other schools – including Louisiana Tech, the University of Missouri and the University of Memphis – but chose UCA to be closer to her family. She said UCA also gives her an opportunity to “play in front of a pretty solid fan base.”

“The moment Lex became a 10th-grader and a part of our basketball team she has made an immediate impact,” said her coach. “She has played in the state championship game for our state’s highest classification the last two seasons, earning all-state and all-state tournament honors. She has been ranked among our nation’s top 60 players of the 2016 classification.

“It has been a blessing to coach Lex and we are looking forward to her senior season beginning next week.”

Alexis said there have been challenges along the way, including being cut from a traveling team early on. She also suffered a broken wrist last year.

Still, she said playing college ball has been one of her goals which she has worked hard to accomplish.

During the ceremony, her AAU basketball coach, Odie Phillips, offered his congratulations and shared that the team is called the Lady Bears.

“She’s been a bear all her life.”

Before signing her letter, Alexis expressed her appreciation to her family and others. “I want to thank everybody who supported me along my journey.”

Alexis realizes that not all players get to play on the next level. “It’s been a blessing that not many people get to do,” she said of the signing. “It’s a really humbling experience…I’m excited to be a Sugar Bear next year.”