Alex Saxen's real first name is Alexandria, but most people just call her Alex.

"Pretty much," she said, "except when I'm trouble."

Saxen probably doesn't have much time for trouble, considering her busy schedule at Xavier High School. She's a three-sport athlete, belongs to numerous clubs at school and has maintained a healthy 3.5 grade point average.

Her next stop will be Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo., where she plans to play basketball for the NCAA Division II school and possibly study pre-medicine.

"I'm real excited, but I'm kind of nervous, because I'm not going to know very many people there," she said. "I'm nervous, but I'm excited."

Saxen, who stands about 5-foot-10, averaged 10.1 points and 3.3 rebounds for the Saints last season. She could be a swing player at Missouri Western State for Coach Lynn Plett, who led the Griffons to a 14-13 record this year.

"Coach Plett told me he likes my versatility, because I like to get out and run and I have the ability to shoot outside," she said. "He also likes that I'm not afraid to go to the basket and penetrate.

"He doesn't like to guarantee anything, like most coaches don't, but he said I could have a very good chance of being a contributing factor next year."

Saxen picked Missouri Western State over Kirkwood and St. Ambrose. She committed on Jan. 2 and can sign her national letter-of-intent on Wednesday.

Saxen said Missouri Western State contacted her after seeing her play for Team Iowa last summer. She took an unofficial visit in September and was offered a scholarship at that time, then took an official visit during the college basketball season.

"I got to talk with them (the players) and hang out with them after a game, and they seemed really friendly and had a passion for basketball. So that was good," she said. "I felt like I was at home, because it was real relaxed and it's a perfect size for me."

Missouri Western State has approximately 6,000 students.