by By Dan Ninham
Change is good. Student-athletes change colleges for positive reasons and change is good.
Lexux Redthunder, 18, is completing her freshman year at the College of St. Mary, Omaha, NE. She is transferring to the University of Minnesota – Morris to also play basketball.
“I am a member of the Sissetuwan Wahpetuwan Oyate,” said Lexus.
“I compete to inspire the younger generation and for my ancestors who have passed on,” said Lexus.
“I started playing basketball competitively in third grade, but I have always been around the sport as my older brothers played,” said Lexus. “I found something I was truly passionate about. I played every year since then, traveling to countless tournaments on weekends and in the summer.”
“In my junior year of high school, I had the opportunity to play with the All-Native Sacred Hoops AAU team,” said Lexus. “Being able to play AAU and compete against some of the top players in different states helped me tremendously. The exposure I was able to get from AAU is something I am extremely grateful for. I probably would not be a college basketball player without it.”
“During my junior year, I was selected to the All-Tournament team of the Lakota Nation Invitational, a tournament with only native teams in SD. I also was selected third-team All-Conference my junior year and second-team All-Conference my senior year. I achieved my first triple-double my junior year also, with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocks. That same year I had two 20-point, 20 rebound games,” added Lexus.
“Something that defines me as an athlete is that I am a descendent of the Wakinyan Duta tiyospaye (ancestors),” said Lexus. “The males in my bloodline have been itancans (chiefs), akicitas (warriors), and veterans. My relatives have always worked hard and strived to be the best they can be. My great grandmother’s first cousin Asa Sweet Corn played football with Jim Thorpe at Carlisle and Haskell.”
“A lot of my relatives live soberly and healthy lifestyles,” said Lexus. “My dad has been sober since he was 20 years old and is very connected to his spirituality. Overall, my family plays a major role in who I am today, and not only as an athlete but as a person too.”
“Someone who positively influenced me was my first ever basketball coach, Brice Roberts,” said Lexus. “He is someone who pushed me past my limits, made me realize basketball is something I could excel at, and helped me develop my fundamental skills. Not only has he helped me on the court but off the court too, he is always there when I need him and supports me endlessly.”
“Another one of my mentors is Jessica Squirrel Coat, my high school basketball coach of my junior year. She is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had the honor of playing for, she always expected 110% out of me. She even took me to AAU practices and tournaments that were up to 6 hours away, all because she saw something in me.”
“I certainly would not be the person I am today without both Brice and Jess,” added Lexus.
“I had the opportunity to coach Lexus her junior year at Tiospa Zina,” said Jessica Squirrel Coat Tiospa Zina Tribal School, Head HS Girls Basketball Coach. “She had a lot of raw talent. Throughout the season I watched her game develop. She wasn’t just a typical 6’3 center for our team. She could dribble, shoot the 10-foot jumper, rebound and protect the basket. There were times she was the first one back on defense. She had speed.”
“She had qualities that I knew would take her to the collegiate level. She just needed to extra hand to get her exposure,” added Jessica.
“The end of her junior year season the All-Native Sacred Hoops Director reached out asking about Lexus,” said Jessica. “I knew that was Lexus’s opportunity because the Sacred Hoops program has the connection to get our Native athletes exposure through AAU to play collegiate basketball.”
“I watched Lexus this season and she was a different player,” said Jessica. “Being a collegiate athlete, her game developed and so did she. Lexus was more athletic and was taking high percentage shots and she was still protecting the paint. She made the Dean’s List first semester. She was the definition of the student-athlete. I believe she is truly one of the best female athletes to come out of Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate.”
“Going to college and playing basketball especially has been extremely tough not only physically but mentally too,” said Lexus. “Sleep is my #1 priority when it comes to maintaining my physical strength. Emotionally it is super hard sometimes, I miss my family tons, but they are the reason I am doing this, why I push myself so hard. I want to set a good example for not only my younger siblings but also all the young kids back home. Mentally, I try my hardest to talk about how I am feeling as much as I can, whether it’s to my dad or my coach, it is always relieving to get things off my chest. Spiritually, I always pray to Creator every morning and night, I brought sage and roots from back home with me to Omaha. It brings me a sense of serenity and it is calming to know that I can always smudge and pray on tough days.”
“Everything I do and achieve is through my motivation to inspire the kids back home,” said Lexus. “They can do anything they set their mind to. I was once in their shoes, I dreamed of being in the place I am today and with hard work and determination, I made it a reality.”
“I am extremely grateful to be able to play at the next level,” said Lexus. “This past year has given me the opportunity to learn so much about myself. But this pandemic has taught me even more: that I don’t have forever with my relatives. My dad is 65 years old so transferring to Morris gives me the perfect opportunity to play closer to home while I still can.”
Photo Credit: Mickey Divine
