McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit Dee Alexander will miss the first half of the Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball season with a lower extremity injury.
UC sent out a release on Sunday, Oct. 26, and Alexander also announced the injury via Instagram.
Former McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit Dee Alexander will miss the first half of the Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball season with a lower extremity injury.
Alexander was just named the Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year.
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Alexander, a Cincinnati native from Purcell Marian High School, finished No. 11 in the final ESPN rankings and was ranked the No. 1 player in Ohio by Prep Hoops. She was just the second player ever to win Ohio Ms. Basketball three straight years and earned back-to-back Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
She led the Cavaliers of Purcell Marian to four consecutive Ohio state championships and is the highest-rated recruit ever to Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball.
Dee Alexander (2) reacts during the Purcell Marian Cavaliers’ state championship game against Avon Lake Friday, March 14. Alexander led the Cavaliers to four straight Ohio state titles.
On her Instagram page, Alexander spoke of the setback.
“I’ve recently sustained an injury to my lower extremity,” she said. “While this has been a difficult setback, I am thankful that to say I’m expected a full recovery. I want to take a moment to thank my teammates, my coaches and the training staff for their consistent support and professionalism through this journey. I’m staying focused on my recovery and doing everything I can to return as soon as possible stronger and better than ever.”
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She went on to say in her post that she’d be back for the second half of the season and that “the grind doesn’t stop, it just changes for a bit.”
The Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball account on X, posted a promotional shot of Alexander just hours before the announcement.
UC women’s coach Katrina Merriweather on Alexander
“We’ve had some that are in and out from an injury standpoint and that will look a little different at the beginning of the season,” Merriweather said at Big 12 media day the past week.
That was a reference to Alexander, one of six promising freshmen in Merriweather’s recruiting class. Though voted Big 12 Freshman of the Year, she wasn’t brought to media day, but Merriweather says there will be plenty more opportunities.
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“She’s one of the most humble basketball players I’ve ever been around,” Merriweather said. “Is she tough and gritty and does she play hard and take charges and rebound and play a little ‘bully ball’? Absolutely. But, she’s one of the kindest, sweetest people I’ve ever met.”
When does Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball begin?
After an exhibition versus Taylor on Oct. 27, Cincinnati opens the season against Lehigh at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4 inside Fifth Third Arena.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball without 5-star Dee Alexander
