Winning tradition for Madison Higgins

Championships and individual awards are nothing new to the Corsairs' point guard Madison Higgins. But what the young college freshman has planned next is definitely unfamiliar ground.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Higgins first picked up a basketball when he was 2 years old.

"I have to give my dad credit; he put the ball in my hands," said Higgins. "But after he got me started, it was mostly up to me."

At the age of 4, Higgins had his first taste of organized basketball.

"I started at the Westchester Y around 4 or 5 years old," said Higgins. "We always won the championship at the Y. It was all fun and games back then."

Fun and games soon turned into a more serious approach, especially once Higgins realized the game he loved could possibly afford him an opportunity at a college scholarship, or even a professional career.

"Basketball wasn't really serious until I was about 13," said Higgins.

Higgins moved around during middle school, relocating to Mississippi at one point, and playing for a few club teams there, before attending St. Bernard's High School in Playa Del Rey, Calif.

His high school years were just as busy.

"I attended St. Bernard’s my freshman and sophomore year," said Higgins. "Then I transferred to Price my junior year."

While at St. Bernard’s, Higgins won the defensive player of the year award. Following his junior year at Price, Higgins switched back and forth to Hamilton High School and back to Price, forfeiting his basketball aspirations.

This year as a freshman at Santa Monica College, Higgins earned team captain honors, as well as an honorable mention to the Western State South Conference all-conference team.

"Me being vocal and how I interact with teammates in school, practice and games probably have a lot to do with why my coach elected me to represent our team as captain," said Higgins.

Higgins has already been making plans for his upcoming sophomore season.

"I’m most definitely comfortable with the ball in my hands late in the game," said Higgins. "This year was definitely a learning experience. It’s not how you start, it's how you finish."

With the Citrus Owls being the lone representative for the conference in the postseason this year, Higgins and his young teammates have their sights set on next year.

"All of us have talked about coming out strong next year," said Higgins. "I feel like we’re never going to lose to the Owls again. We have a totally different mind set."

As a defensive and three-point specialist with a standout mid-range game, Higgins hopes to make that leap after SMC.

“I would love to go to the next level and just keep progressing and not just getting to the next level, but producing," said Higgins. "I would love to go overseas."

With the road to the next level being a tough one, Higgins already has planned out other opportunities, such as getting a degree in kinesiology.

“I plan on getting a degree regardless; it’s part of the path,” said Higgins. "Physical therapy and strength training is a field I could see myself going into after basketball — maybe be the physical trainer for a professional sports team.”