CINCINNATI – Mercy McAuley junior combo guard Lexi Fleming has verbally committed to play basketball at Bowling Green.
Fleming, the daughter of former longtime La Salle basketball coach Dan Fleming and sister of Bellarmine University sophomore guard and former La Salle standout CJ Fleming, was the only sophomore named to the Girls Greater Catholic League First Team for McAuley last season.
Mercy and McAuley high schools closed this past spring and formed Mercy McAuley starting this school year.
“As a competitor, she is an elite level competitor,” Mercy McAuley coach Nick Baltimore said. “The kid just makes plays. She is a winner.”
Lexi Fleming, who is 5 feet 6, is believed to be the first 2020 girls’ basketball player in the Cincinnati area to make a college commitment.
“It’s a great early pickup for Coach (Robyn) Fralick at Bowling Green,” said Bryce McKey, Ohio Girls’ Basketball Report’s Associate Director/Director of Scouting. “Her shooting ability will allow them to stretch the defense and use her in a lot of different ways. She continues to get better every time we see her.”
Fleming averaged 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.0 assists for McAuley last season. She shot 42.2 percent from behind the 3-point line. She had a season-high 23 points and 14 rebounds in a 59-40 win over McNicholas Feb. 5. She also had five steals in that game.
Bowling Green offered a scholarship to Fleming in July. She also considered Bellarmine and Ashland among her finalists.
Mercy McAuley opens its inaugural season Nov. 23 against West Clermont in the OGBR’s Journey to the Tourney at Lakota West.
The first day of official Ohio High School Athletic Association full-time practice is Oct. 26.
