Throughout Milan’s storied basketball history, several all-time great names come to mind and given his accolades, Ryan Hixson is among those and still remains the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,545 points and all-time leading rebounder at 756 boards. As Hixson racked up records and honors during his four-year career, success for the Indians was abundant during that time.

 

Despite a 12-13 record during the 1998-1999 campaign, Hixson and the black and gold under head coach Randy Combs marched all the way to the Class A Semi-State, upsetting Jac-Cen-Del in the sectional championship and blowing out Southwestern (Shelby) in the regional finals before nearly pulling off another shocker in the semi-state, eventually falling by four to Tecumseh. One year later, Milan and Hixson would find themselves 19-3 and ranked as high as No. 2 in the Class A poll, earning ORVC championship honors in the process. Hixson finished that season averaging 20.5 points per game and shooting 62 percent from the floor en route to being named a USA Today Top 25 player in the state and capturing Third Team All-State honors. He was a four-time All-ORVC selection, named All-Sectional three times and was the Ripley Publishing Tiny Hunt Award Winner along with being named MVP of the 40 & 8 All-Star Game.

 

Hixson went on to play one year of collegiate basketball at Vincennes University under legendary head coach Dan Sparks before three seasons at the University of Indianapolis. He averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game his senior season and the Greyhounds finished that season ranked seventh in the NCAA Division II poll. Hixson is currently in his 18th year of active duty in the United States Coast Guard and serves as Lieutenant Commander, having earned various medals throughout his military career along with serving all across our great country. He has been a two-time member of the All-Navy Golf Team and was a four-time Re/Max World Long Drive Champion in the military division from 2007 through 2010. We thank Lieutenant Commander Hixson for his continued service and welcome him to the Hall of Fame.