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MADI Sexton has already crammed plenty into her seven years in basketball.
But things are about to get even busier for the easy-going Bendigo Braves forward following her scholarship signing with the University of South Carolina Aiken.
Sexton is the latest in a long-line of emerging Braves to make their way into the US college system in recent times.
Her current Braves team-mate Ahlise Hurst has recently signed with University of New Mexico, while a pair of players from last year’s team, Chloe Bibby (Southern Mississippi) and Alex Strawhorn (Kilgore College in Texas) have completed their first seasons overseas.
Another of this season’s Braves Maddi Wild ended her three-year college career at West Texas last year.
Sexton said it was good to finally put pen to paper after the channels of communication between player and college were kept open for six months.
“When it got to the pointy end, I had to decide between two schools,” she said.
“But I felt comfortable with South Carolina and their staff and comfortable with their players – I had already communicated with them.
“They are in a good league and the team looked like it was doing well.
“Putting all the pros and cons together and I decided on them purely because it’s where I felt most comfortable.”
Now in her third season with the Braves’ SEABL team, Sexton has been given an expanded role by new coach Megan Moody.
The teenager is averaging about 14 minutes per game after playing far fewer minutes in her first two years.
No small accomplishment in a line-up laden with WNBL talent, including three-time championship point guard Kelly Wilson, dual championship centre Gabe Richards, 2017-18 Bendigo Spirit MVP Nadeen Payne, Ash Karaitiana, Kara Tessari and Wild.
With the Braves setting the pace in the SEABL at 8-0 and undoubted championship contenders, Sexton hopes she has timed her exit to the US to perfection.
She is due to fly out the day after the national championship grand final in August.
“I purposely did that – I told the school that we are doing really well this season, and asked if there was any chance I could fly out the day after the final in the event that we make it,” she said.
“That was all cleared, which is real exciting.
“It’s going to be an excellent opportunity for me in the US.”
Sexton, also a talented netballer, who played a handful of games for Sandhurst’s A-grade team during their 2017 premiership season, has put that sport on hold for now to focus on her basketball.
She rated this SEABL season as not just her most exhilarating, but the best from an educational standpoint.
“The opportunity I have been given is crazy; to step on court with people who have played Opals, gone over to play college and played WNBL is fantastic,” she said.
“Nadeen Payne and Ash Karaitiana have been great influences.
“They are my position, and even though they are taller than me, the athleticism they have and their role in the team is something I have always aspired to - a wing-player, running the lane, getting boards and driving to the basket.
“I’m amazed every training just seeing what can do.”
The Braves will christen the new Bendigo Stadium show court when they play Sandringham Sabres this Friday night at 6pm.