Each season, the culmination of the Outside the Huddle Top 50 player countdown is the naming of our annual First Five, the highest preseason honor for OTH basketball coverage.
The First Five traces its lineage back to The News-Sentinel’s years of presenting “Fabulous Five” teams of the area’s best five players in both boys and girls basketball. This player is part of our seventh season of naming First Five players.
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No. 1 – Addison Baxter, Columbia City
Baxter, a Butler University commit, is set to take on an even larger role as Columbia City’s standout returner and leader. Averaging 18 points per game last season, she was already a key offensive force for the Eagles, but her all-around game sets her apart. Baxter pulled down 6.2 rebounds and dished out 5.2 assists per contest, showcasing her versatility on both ends of the court. What truly makes her special, though, is her defensive prowess, as she averaged an astounding 5.3 steals per game as a junior. Her ability to lock down opponents in any position makes her a game-changing defensive stopper, and with her leadership, Columbia City is poised for another strong season.
COACH’S QUOTE ON BAXTER
“Gym rat and spent an incredible amount of time fine tuning her game; she is never satisfied with where she is and is always looking to improve; a true student of the game who can finish at the rim, mid range and from the three line by either the dribble, the pass, or an offensive rebound” – Columbia City coach Amy Shearer
PREVIOUSLY IN THE COUNTDOWN
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