By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – According to an old saying, quiet girls are the most dangerous. That perfectly describes Madisyn Bailey. She’s soft-spoken, one of those “low talkers” made famous by Jerry Seinfeld, but she’s incredibly dangerous on the court.
Bailey, one of the senior stars for Bedford North Lawrence, officially signed with Marian University on Thursday. After an outstanding four-year career with the Stars, capped by a Class 4A state championship in 2023, she will make the next step to a program that’s coming off a stellar campaign. She’s ready to fit in.
After averaging 11.5 points and team highs of 4.2 assists and 3.2 steals for BNL in 2023-24, she will make the move to the next level, bringing her defensive skills and high-level basketball intellect to the Knights.
She made her college choice prior to the start of her senior season, and never wavered.
“I really liked the coaches and built a good relationship with them,” Bailey said. “When I met the team, I really liked the players. I didn’t have to worry about playing to impress people, I didn’t have to worry about being recruited.”
Bailey was a key contributor for the state champions, and she stepped up to provide more offense and leadership as BNL went 20-5 and won its 13th consecutive sectional crown. She was at her best during that tournament, scoring a career-high 24 points in the title victory over Jennings County.
She was selected First Team in the Hoosier Hills Conference and earned an invitation to the Top 60 workout. Those are just the numbers and facts. Her impact was more than that. And her memories of her time at BNL will be more than sheer statistics.
“It was how much fun we all had,’ Bailey said. “We had a good time.”
Bailey, who plans to major in accounting, will play for Marian head coach Steve Brooks, who’s preparing for his fourth season with the program. The Knights won 31 straight games before falling to the University of Providence in the NAIA national quarterfinals last season.
