photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Addie Fulscher gathers her dribble while looking for options against Junction City on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

Before starting high school, Addie Fulscher’s path through seemed destined to take her toward soccer.

Fulscher started focusing more time on basketball, and she soon developed a love for the game and a skill level that gave her an opportunity to play basketball in college. Over the weekend, Fulscher made that a reality by committing to Tabor College.

“I kind of just set my mind to that and worked to be able to get here and have this opportunity,” Fulscher said. “It’s really great. It definitely helps having this decision now for the rest of the season to be able to play a little more free.”

Fulscher first got in contact with Tabor College in late June, and Fulscher got to speak with the team more when she and the coaches were at an AAU tournament in Louisville this summer. That’s when Fulscher got to talk to the coaches in person for the first time.

“A big part of their recruiting is they like to find Kansas girls, which I think is great,” Fulscher said. “Another big thing is not only recruiting good basketball players, but good people as well. I know they mentioned that several times, just talking to them on the phone or in person.”

Fulscher connected with the staff, and when she got to visit Hillsboro and spend time with the team, she felt a strong connection with her eventual teammates. A few more trips later and Fulscher made her commitment known to the coaching staff.

“I was finally set with my decision — I feel like Tabor was the one,” Fulscher said. “So I told (women’s basketball coach Shawn Reed) that, and he was super excited. And then I hadn’t told the assistant coaches yet, so he called them in, and I told them as well, and they were all super happy.”

Fulscher joins a roster teeming with former Kansas players. Of the 27 players on the team, only four are not from Kansas. Fulscher said it’ll be fun to see and compete with some familiar faces that she knows from around the state.

Tabor College is an NAIA school in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Reed is in his 15th season as the head coach of the team, and in those 15 years, only once have the Bluejays not finished in the top four of the conference. Under Reed, the Bluejays have gone to the NAIA National Tournament eight times with two elite eight appearances.

Between Free State and Fulscher’s AAU team Missouri Phenom, she plays both point guard and shooting guard. With the Firebirds, she’s more often playing with the ball in her hands and initiating the offense. On her AAU team, Fulscher mostly plays off the ball.

College basketball is much faster paced than high school basketball, so for Fulscher to have comfortability with both guard positions will be beneficial as she grows accustomed to the speed. That versatility is also something Fulscher believes will give her an advantage to get playing time.

Along with her skill on the court, Fulscher has needed to be a leader and starter for the Firebirds since she joined the team. It was a trial by fire, but the pressure molded her into a better player and leader.

“Becoming a better leader, I think, will help me learn to put myself out there more when I do get to college, and be able to make new friends and just overall be more social,” Fulscher added.

Over the next few months, Fulscher has a few things she’s working on to get ready for Tabor. Shooting is, of course, one of the most important skills to always build on, she will be in the gym working on it. She wants to strengthen her pull-up shooting, knowing that it’ll help change how defenses can defend her. Along with that, Fulscher wants to keep growing as an all-around player.

“I’m definitely just getting shots up, getting in the gym, working on my game,” Fulscher said. “Overall, just getting into the paint better, and even if I don’t go up for a shot, then I can kick out. But overall doing stuff that can help other people get open as well.”

Making a decision on her collegiate future lifts some weight off Fulscher’s shoulders, but it’s also a stark reminder that her time at Free State is quickly coming to an end. With that, Fulscher wants to make the most of the little time left with the Firebirds.

“It’s definitely not always been the easiest at times, but being able to make the most out of it and learn those critical life lessons and everything with the girls has really kept me in it,” Fulscher said. “I love everyone there. We all bond really well on and off the court, which is what I think is definitely helping us this year.”