Everyone loves a good hometown hero. For the West Virginia Mountaineers, usually any in-state native counts, considering the size of the state and the fact that it's the flagship university for West Virginia. So it's natural that one of the transfer portal acquisitions for the WVU women's basketball team that would draw the most attention is Alexis Bordas.
Bordas played high school basketball at Wheeling Park High School, where she was one of the most decorated girls basketball players in state history. She claimed the trio of the Gatorade Player of the Year, the West Virginia MaxPreps Player of the Year, and the Mary Ostrowski Award in three separate seasons, and was a four-time First-Team All-State selection before heading to Duquesne to begin her college career.
But her impressive resume isn't the only thing that drew attention to her signing with the Mountaineers. Because she also brings a long drought to an end, as she becomes the first in-state player to suit up for WVU women's basketball since Morgantown's Olivia Seggie in 2016.
"It's been quite a while that we had (an in-state native) here in this program," West Virginia coach Mark Kellogg said.
It's a lot of pressure to live up to, but if Bordas' debut season at the collegiate level is indication, she will be able to handle the pressure. She averaged 15.5 points, 3.1 rebounds,1.6 assists, and 1.5 steals last season for Duquesne, starting all 31 games the team played. Now, she'll hope her skills carry her forward to be a role model for the rest of the state.
"I know it's extra special being from West Virginia, and I'm sure lots of little girls will look up to me and hopefully they will be playing here one day," she said.
"It's been super-fun already with all the fan support," she said. "(Wednesday night) we had an event and just seeing all the fans and it's June. Everyone is already so excited and rallies around this team."
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