After having to redshirt last year’s basketball season due to a back injury, 6-foot-6 forward British Alexander is back and feeling 100 percent.
Back spasms shortened Alexander’s season, but after rehabbing during the winter to strengthen his core, Alexander is ready to lead the Sinclair Pride to a conference championship and possibly a trip to nationals. Alexander is one of four sophomores returning from last year’s squad that finished with a 19-11 record.
This year’s team features more big men, which contrasts the speedy guard-filled team from the 2008-09 season. But Alexander sees it as a positive change. He said the team is longer and retained its athleticism. He also feels that with bigger teammates he will get more chances to rest during games.
Alexander, who has played basketball since the fourth grade, considers himself to be a defensive-minded player.
“I like to block shots, steal the ball, lock a man up,” said the 21-year-old Trotwood-Madison graduate.
Alexander said he developed that mindset while playing in high school on a talented Trotwood team that featured University of Dayton forward Chris Wright, who is Alexander’s cousin. Alexander looks at Wright as both a brother and someone who pushes him to succeed.
“We pushed each other to get where we’re at now,” Alexander said.
Though Alexander expects to retain his defensive intensity, he has focused his offseason on improving his offensive repertoire by concentrating on his jump shot and ball-handling skills. This year he plans to get minutes at the both forward positions and center. Alexander expects the Pride to be more pumped for games than last year’s team.
“I think this year’s team has more intensity, more willpower to win,” Alexander said. “Last year’s team was more laid-back… We really was just an offensive team, we didn’t have defensive chemistry.”
Off the court, Alexander sees himself as reserved but goofy when he gets to know people.
“I (usually) like to stay in my own little corner,” Alexander said.
Alexander may not dive into what school he’s looking to transfer to, but he does hope that the potential school will have good academics and a good fan base.
“I don’t have to start, I don’t have to play a lot of minutes,” Alexander said, “I just want a place where I can fit in.”