Former Gruver standout Bailey Maupin is one of the best basketball players to come out of the Texas Panhandle in recent memory.
Now a star for the Texas Tech Lady Raiders, Maupin has helped the team to a 19-1 start in the 2025-26 campaign, including a pair of game-winning free throws to take down No. 15 Baylor in Waco.
Maupin is averaging 15.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game this season while shooting 45.4% from the field, 36.2% from 3-point range and 83.3% from the free throw line.
The Lady Raiders’ standout has been recognized for her efforts, earning Big 12 Player of the Week and National Player of the Week honors this year. Recently, Maupin’s success on the hardwood has resulted in a name, image and likeness (NIL) partnership with Western Bank, a financial servicer with locations in Amarillo, Abilene, Big Spring, Brownwood, Gruver, Plainview and Lubbock.
Like Maupin, Western Bank President and CEO Dan Odom is a native of Gruver.
“This partnership is personal,” said Odom in a recent press release from Primitive. “When you come from a small town, you understand the importance of people showing up for you. Supporting Bailey is about supporting someone who represents where we’re from and what we value.”
The partnership features a social media video including Maupin and Odom, describing the TTU standout as “Gruver’s pride, Lubbock’s star.”
According to the press release, “the collaboration underscores Western Bank’s commitment to community, relationships and thoughtful investment in student-athletes.”
“Western Bank isn’t just a sponsor, it’s part of my story,” Maupin said in the same release. “Knowing that this partnership reflects shared roots and a genuine commitment to community makes it incredibly meaningful.”
In high school, Maupin helped the Lady Hounds to a pair of state titles in 2020 and 2022. Gruver notched the school’s first perfect season with a 33-0 mark in 2022, which saw Maupin average 22 points and 7.5 rebounds per game en route to Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class 2A Player of the Year honors.
The former Hansford County star also earned Class 2A State Championship Most Valuable Player recognition and was named district MVP four times in her high school career.
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