Travis Hightower Calls It for Chico State

Travis Hightower. What a perfect pairing of names for an athlete. It's easy to imagine hearing such a name being highlighted repeatedly during a game by announcers Jim Nantz or Bill Raftery. Although his parents may have been thinking more football than basketball when naming him, the 6-foot-7 Hightower is moving on from Justin-Siena High in Napa to perennial California Collegiate Athletic Association hoops power Chico State and Coach Greg Clink.

With a Dad and a brother who both played on the gridiron, this Hightower broke the mold. "I tried soccer but it wasn't interesting. With football, there aren't too many 6-foot-7, 180 pound guys playing." So basketball became his go-to sport.

Why the choice of Chico State? "I liked the college feel. I did research on the team and it was the best fit for me." Hightower visited in March, "walking the campus and playing with the team." He made the call soon after.

Asked how the Chico coaching staff envisions using him, Hightower said, "they told me at the 2, the 3 and the 4 spots, depending on matchups." He noted "defending is one of my better skills, rebounding, too."

 “We are really excited about Travis," Chico Coach Greg Clink said. "He is a great young man and has a ton of potential. We feel like he can develop into a tremendous player at Chico State and in the CCAA.”

From his freshman year to now, Hightower stated that "my defense and my shooting have really improved. I didn't take many shots as a freshman."

In naming his best basketball moment to date, he pondered momentarily before offering, "I would say my first in-game dunk during my freshman season on the freshman team." It took place late in the season. "I was coming off the bench but I promised people I would get a dunk." Some believed him, others didn't. He proved up to the challenge.

As for leadership, Hightower explained, "I do see myself as a leader. You'll see me talk a lot on the court with my teammates."

He is looking to major in kinesiology at Chico with the idea of getting into sports medicine as a trainer.

Hightower closed out his interview by "thanking my parents for sending me to camps when I was younger and for forcing me to practice when I didn't always want to." Also, "my brothers for always keeping it real" and "all the coaches and friends who believed in me."