Lockhart inks LOI to play basketball for Drury

On Wednesday morning, Sudan senior, Stevi Lockhart signer her National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and basketball career at Drury University.

The senior talked about being signed prior to her senior season fully getting underway, saying, “It’s exciting and I feel pretty relaxed knowing that I’m signed and know where I’m going, it’s just relaxing.”

The signing comes one day removed from a blowout victory on the road over Vega that saw Lockhart score 26 points and grab 10 rebounds, to go along with four assists four steals and two blocks.

High School Principal Gordon Martin made a statement prior to Lockhart signing her LOI, saying, “We have witnessed you pour your heart and soul into our Sudan Nettes’ Athletic Program. Thank you for always representing Sudan with class and integrity.”

He added, “You will be greatly missed in Sudan, but you will have a whole community behind you as you continue your career at Drury University. We know you will represent Sudan well and continue your excellence both on and off the court. Once a Nette, always a Nette.”

Lockhart has been a member of the Nettes athletic program for six years dating back to junior high winning several district title, as well as multiple playoff games.

Some of Lockhart’s accolades include: District MVP the last three years; TABC All-Region selection the last three years; TABC All-State selection the last three years; TGCA All-State selection the last three years and she was a THCA All-Star selection. She has also graced the Panhandle Plains basketball cover three times.

Lockhart has scored 1,405 points to date, she owns the Nettes free- throw percentage record for a season with a 92% freethrow percentage and she owns the single-game free-throw record, going 14-14 100%. Lockhart also participated in the State Track Meet as a sophomore.

Lockhart talked about when she realized she wanted to play college basketball, saying, “When I was younger I loved basketball, but I didn’t know if I wanted to play at the next level. I would say in junior high is when it really hit me that I could play at the next level.”

She talked about earning this opportunity from Drury University, saying, “It’s so special; none of this would have been possible without God. It means the world to me that I get to continue my basketball career at the college level.”

She added, “The Drury coaching staff is great and the head coach and I have become really close. The head coach and I are really close and I felt like it was a family from the very beginning. I feel that the coaching staff can really help me reach my full potential, because I feel like my ceiling is very high.”

She talked about the recruiting process and what led her to commit to the Panthers, saying, “At first I wasn’t super interested, but when I took a visit to the campus I fell in love. They definitely got me.”

Drury has been playing basketball since 2002 and they are the winningest women’s program in the nation and have the highest win percentage of any Division I or II program. They were 32-5 last season, going 17-3 in conference play, winning the GLVC Conference Championship and made it to the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Semi-Finals.

The newly signed Panther talked about what she is most looking forward to about playing at the next level, saying, “I love to win.”

“I want to try and win a National Championship, I love to win and that is one of the main goals that I have, but I’m also just looking forward to playing with more collegiate players.”

Lockhart still has most of her senior season in front of her, just two games into the 2022-2023 campaign, but she talked about being able to play for her dad the last several years, saying, “Playing for my dad is very special to me. He pours so much of his time into me; I’m very thankful for him.”

Head Coach Benny Lockhart also spoke on being able to coach his daughter over the last few years, stating, “We didn’t really know what to expect coming into freshman year and we definitely had some growing pains for each other. It’s hard, she has to separate dad from coach and I have to separate kid from player, but as we figured it out it is just awesome.”

He added, “She goes in and comes out when she needs to. She kind of runs the show now and everyone knows that that is how it’s going to be. As the coach, it’s like having another coach on the floor; It’s just so much fun getting to stand center stage and watch her do what she loves.”

The senior talked about how she has grown over the years both on and off the court, saying, “My teammates hold me accountable for everything that I do. They keep me strong and I love being their leader and they help me as much as I help them. They’re great.”

She reflected on her favorite memory as a Nette, recalling her sophomore year when they defeated the Ropes Lady Eagles in the Regional Quarterfinals.

“I would say that is my favorite memory of being a Nette,” she explained.

Lockhart talked about her support system, saying “My family is great. They support me in everything I do and have always been my biggest supporters. They’re great.”

She added, “This community is great. They get behind all of our athletes and they’re just a great community and love every single one of us. I couldn’t ask for a better community.”

Lockhart said she plans to major in something to do with sports and a minor in communications.

She talked about the prospective roster and the possibility of early playing time, saying, “It’s exciting for sure. I’m going in with an open mind and if that means sitting on the bench and cheering, then it’s sitting on the bench and cheering. But, I’m going to go in and be the best that I can be and take it day-by-day and see what happens.”

Coach Lockhart talked about being able to watch his daughter live out her dream, stating, “Anytime your kid has a dream and it is fulfilled, it is exciting.”