Lexi Blue's 'competitive fight' can spark breakout sophomore season at Kentucky

Lexi Blue is heading into her sophomore season at Kentucky — a great opportunity for her to take that next step and really prove why she was a top 40 recruit coming out of high school. The former four-star guard is feeling much more confident in her game this offseason after spending all of last year just trying to absorb information from the learning tree that is Kenny Brooks.

Kentucky is a rather deeper team this year compared to last. Outside of the starting five, you couldn’t really rely on anyone to give you consistent, quality minutes at times last season. Now, however, Brooks can run a nine-player rotation that can give him some options game-to-game.

Of course, that means that Blue will have to earn her minutes so that she doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. There’s a lot of upperclassman on the roster, so it won’t necessarily be her experience that’ll give her an edge on the depth chart.

In Brooks’ interview with KSR on Episode 39 of The Memorial Memo, he noted that Blue has a “competitive fight” about her that sets her apart from a lot of players.

“Lexi’s done a really good job,” Brooks said of Blue’s improvement this offseason. “Obviously, her freshman year was up and down, and in a landscape where you have opportunities and the ability to move as you please, she came back. She stuck it out. That shows the competitive fight that she has.”

“She’s out on the floor, and obviously, the talent level is continuing to rise and she’s got to battle, but she’s doing her part,” he added. “She’s really improved since last year, and we’re looking forward to her contributions — whatever they are this coming year.”

Regardless of where Blue currently stands in the rotation, she’s always willing to put in the work necessary to gradually earn more playing time. Instead of ever getting discouraged and putting her head down, she lifts her head up high and gets back to work.

“The main thing is she’s a confident young lady, and she goes out there and battles whatever the circumstances are,” Brooks mentioned. “I’m very proud of her attitude and the way that she’s really attacked the whole situation.”

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