Addison Baxter’s journey to becoming a high level was not defined by natural talent alone, but by an unwavering commitment to her faith, her love for the game, and her relentless pursuit of improvement. Every step of her path was paved by her deep conviction about her hard work, which is part of why Baxter is the 2024-2025 Outside the Huddle Player of the Year for girls basketball. As she reflected on her journey, Baxter spoke humbly of the motivation that fueled her.
“My motivation has been playing for God. It was important for me to realize early that everything that I have comes from Him and His blessings. However, I also just have such a deep love for the sport, and that was a really big motivation for me to continue to grow and get better all throughout my high school career.”
Baxter’s senior season was one for the record books. In fact, much of it made the record books both in Whitley County and at Columbia City during her Indiana All-Star senior season. As a senior, Baxter averaged 23.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 4.7 steals per game, which were all Columbia City highs and her points and steals were high averages for Northeast Indiana.
The scoring was a massive part of Baxter’s career at Columbia City, especially her senior season. Over 100 games in her career, Baxter averaged 18.6 points per game, scoring a total of 1,859 points as the Eagles went 87-13 over that four year period. He numbers as a senior made her Columbia City’s all-time leading scorer – regardless of gender – surpassing previous holder Mitchell Wilson. During her scoring run, she surpassed Whitko alum Aly Reiff as Whitley County’s all-time leading female scorer and placed fourth on the county’s all-time scoring list regardless of gender.
Her work ethic was unmatched, and becoming a high-level scorer didn’t come overnight. Baxter’s success was the result of countless hours in the gym and the weight room, where she refined her body and learned body control. She gained the confidence to take the open shot and, more importantly, to recognize when it was her turn to score. Her hard work paid off not just through individual effort, but through the support of her teammates.
“My teammates being able to knock down their open looks also makes it difficult for opponents to focus solely on me, which opens me up as a result.”
Baxter also made sure her teammates got the ball at a high clip, with one of the top assist averages in Northeast Indiana as well. She happened to also finish her senior season as the school’s all-time assist leader, as well as the record holder for most assists in a single game.
As a young player, she was able to compete against high-level talent and hold her own. The growth from her freshman to sophomore year was monumental, boosting her confidence and fueling her dreams of playing at the collegiate level, where her future as a Butler Bulldog is secure. During her career at Columbia City, the Eagles never shy’d away from tough competition both in and out of the NE8. Instead, Baxter was pushed into a tough schedule in Class 4A, that ultimately did keep her and the Eagles away from a postseason title until this season’s successes and the culmination of r a lot of work.
“I start mentally preparing the night before games. Every game is extremely important to me, and I always want to perform. I always watch film on myself and the opposing team to get in the mindset for what we are going to be matching up against,” Baxter said. “Specifically talking about how teams guard me, it was reassuring to have girls that were able to step up and score if I was covered. As a result, I was able to get free because the other team can’t focus on me anymore.”
Baxter never lost sight of who helped her along the way. Her community, her teammates, her family, and her faith were integral to her success. As she prepared to take her game to the next level, she was deeply aware that she wouldn’t have reached this point without their support. And with that support, Baxter emphasizes that giving back that support is important to get credit to teammates, coaches, community and family.
As a leader on the court, Baxter grew into the role of vocal motivator. She knew that sometimes leadership required pushing her teammates out of their comfort zones to help them build their confidence.
While Columbia City’s Sectional and Regional titles this season were the only postseason crowns during Baxter’s time with the Eagles, they also won two NE8 titles along the way. Individually, Baxter left Columbia City with career records for points, assists, steals and field goals made, Baxter has single season records for points, assists, steals and field goals made; she also has single game records for assists and steals.
Looking back on her time at Columbia City, Baxter hoped her legacy would inspire others to follow in her footsteps.
“I just hope that the legacy I left will encourage young girls to respect the game by always playing hard, always having your teammates back, playing for your community, and playing with a relentless passion and feeling of gratitude for what the sport is able to provide. I want the girls that follow to be confident, but humble, in themselves and the program of Lady Eagle basketball,” Baxter said.
As Baxter prepared to embark on the next chapter of her basketball journey at Butler University, she wants to continue to grow in her game. She has spent time working on making reads out of offenses that Butler will run and has also begun studying talented point guards at the next level such as Caitlin Clark, Lucy Olsen, and Braden Smith.
Baxter’s journey was a testament to hard work, faith, and the unwavering support of those around her. Her dedication on and off the court left a lasting impact on her team, her community, and the sport she loved.
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