Alexis Markowski has picked her college sport, and her college home.
On Sunday night, the Lincoln Pius X multi-sport standout announced her commitment to play basketball at South Dakota State, capping a memorable sophomore year.
"Everything just felt right," Markowski said of SDSU. "The coaching staff, the players, the program itself, the school, the education. I just wanted to find a program that really had the biggest interest in me and was a very successful program.
"It was an offer that I really just wanted to take. I couldn't imagine not going there."
South Dakota State had a historic run through the NCAA Tournament in March, reaching the Sweet 16. The Jackrabbits have qualified for the Big Dance in nine of the past 11 seasons.
Markowski's recruiting process went beyond finding the right school. She also was picking between volleyball and basketball.
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There were basketball offers from South Dakota State, Colorado State and Omaha, as well as interest from Nebraska, Creighton, Iowa State and USC. Markowski also was receiving volleyball interest from multiple Division I schools, including Iowa State and Creighton.
Markowski said she went back and forth between the two until deciding on basketball and SDSU.
"I really wanted to go to South Dakota State," said Markowski, who made three unofficial visits to the Brookings, South Dakota, campus. "The last month, I just felt this new desire to improve and get better for basketball and I just knew that basketball was the sport for me."
Markowski's pledge follows a breakout sophomore season on the basketball court. The 6-foot-2 third-team Super-Stater averaged 13.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while helping lead the Thunderbolts to the Class A state semifinals. Last fall, Markowski played a role in leading Pius X to a state runner-up finish in volleyball.
Surgery on her right foot to insert a pair of screws wiped out Markowski's freshman seasons in both volleyball and basketball. But she bounced back with a strong summer at the club level and her recruiting profile began to pick up steam.
"It was super-hard as a freshman," said Markowski, who plays club basketball for the Nebraska Lasers and club volleyball for the Nebraska Juniors. "I just knew I could come in and help the Pius program and contribute. But this season has been just amazing and it really puts a new outlook on a sport. I think I wouldn't be the same player I am today if that wouldn't happen. I wouldn't know what it's like to sit on the sideline or not be able to play and do what I love."
Markowski will be next in her family to play Division I basketball. Her father Andy played at Nebraska in the late 1990s. Markowski said her family played a huge part in her recruiting process.
"I am super-close to my family and my dad has probably helped me the most," she said. "He understands it and he's also my coach. But he's also my dad and he wanted what's best for me. He knew I really wanted to go there. They were super-excited with the decision."