Former RV women’s basketball team member and current Jackson Memorial senior point guard Alexis Linton scored her 1,000th career point on February 27 against Brick Memorial. Like a piranha in the water, she is aggressive on defense and fights for every loose ball. This year alone, she has 49 steals and 42 rebounds. She is also one of the team’s highest point scorers with an average of 19.4 points a game and her all-time high of 36 points in one of her more recent games. She is an all-around player and a great asset to the team. Linton has brought much entertainment to the local sports world. 

Linton started playing basketball at a very young age. As a female athlete living in a man’s world, she trained and attended basketball camps to better her game. 

“I really just train as much as I can,” she said. “One thing I also do that really helps is watch basketball. Watching basketball is super important to me, and when I say watching basketball, I don’t just mean watching your highlights or your games, I mean watching college games, watching the NBA and WNBA and watching other high school games. Watching basketball really increases your basketball IQ and at the same time, you can pick up different moves to try.”

Considering the ongoing conversations surrounding the inequalities between women’s and men’s sports, Linton disagrees with the idea that female athletes are inferior to male athletes. “I personally think you can’t say you are a sports fan and not support women’s sports,” she said. “If you are a sports fan, you support women and men athletes. Women athletes are just as good, if not better. We train just as much as they do, we work just as hard as they do, and we compete just like male athletes do.” 

Linton initially began her high school basketball career as a Red Devil. She played varsity starting her freshman year and would go on to play until her junior year before transferring to Jackson Memorial She feels that the change of schools, along with the change of teammates and competition, has improved her game immensely. 

“Another thing that has also helped me was practicing and playing with the best girls in the state,” she said. “You aren’t going to get any better playing with girls that are just as good as you. You should always want to play against the best of the best. When I started training and playing with other division 1 basketball players, I saw a huge jump in my game.” 

Linton soon became the player to study. Her quick hands-on defense and outstanding offensive performances gained widespread recognition. She will be continuing her athletic career at Kent State University next year.

Linton feels that her parents are her greatest support system. When asked who helped her the most in accomplishing this dream, she said, “definitely my parents, no question about it. My dad is my basketball trainer and I really wouldn’t be where I am without him. My mom sacrificed so much for me to be playing AAU and going to all these camps and tryouts. She would miss work to go to these different states and watch me play. Playing basketball definitely isn’t cheap and they just did everything they could to get me to the places I needed to be and go, so I’m really grateful for them and everything they do.”

Linton always encourages and supports her teammates. She carries her goofy personality with her on and off of the court. Anyone who knows Linton knows that she is always dancing and laughing. 

On behalf of RV, congratulations to Linton on hitting this milestone. Her former teammates and classmates wish her the best for all her future endeavors. Kent State University is especially lucky to have such a star. We know that she will give her best effort every time she is suited on their court. We are confident that her steadfast work ethic and well-liked personality will take her far, not only on the basketball court but in life.