A young basketball talent from Prince Edward Island is preparing to elevate her game and potentially launch her athletic career to new heights as she gears up to join a university team next year.
Alex Newson has recently made the decision to further her studies at the State University of New York at Albany, where she will be a part of the Albany Great Danes basketball squad. This move is set to mark a significant milestone as she is poised to become the first-ever basketball player from P.E.I. to compete in NCAA Division I basketball.
Expressing her excitement, Newson shared, “It’s great, honestly, I think it’s like, even better being from like a small province. I hope to inspire other people, especially girls that play basketball. I think it’s growing a lot in the province.”
Newson’s basketball journey began at the young age of five. Transitioning to Ontario for her junior year at King’s Christian Collegiate allowed her to immerse herself in a high-level basketball environment and compete against top-tier Division I and national team players.
With a newfound determination and skill progression, Newson set her sights on reaching the NCAA Division I level. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasized, “That kind of just became my dream, just my, kind of, goal for the next two years trying to make it there, and I think the more and more I improved I was like, okay — this can happen now.”
Earlier this year, Newson represented Team P.E.I. at the Canada Games in St. John’s, N.L., where she played alongside her father, who coached the team and is a former Canada Games athlete himself.
Acknowledging the unwavering support from her parents, Newson credited them for being her pillars of strength. She emphasized, “They’ve always supported me, my mom went on the visit [to Albany] with me and she loved the coaching staff and knew it was a great place for me.”
Looking ahead, Newson is not only eager to contribute to her new team’s success on the court but also anticipates starting her academic journey at the university, with plans to pursue studies in biology.
Transitioning to the University at Albany has lifted a significant burden off Newson’s shoulders, recognizing the rarity and significance of the opportunity to play NCAA basketball, particularly as a Canadian athlete. She expressed, “Only a small percentage of us from high school can make it to that level, especially being from Canada. It’s a pretty big deal.”
As she prepares to embark on this new chapter, Newson remains open to various career paths in basketball, including the possibility of playing professionally with the support of her coaches. However, her immediate focus is on finishing her senior year of high school before gearing up for basketball training at the University at Albany next summer.
