Kadaja Bailey Named BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year

Entering her first season donning a St. John's uniform, Kadaja Bailey was selected as the 2018 BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year, the league announced this morning in conjunction with BIG EAST Media Day at Madison Square Garden.

Bailey becomes the first St. John's player to be named the league's preseason freshman of the year since Cozette Ballentine was honored in 1988.

Bailey, a four-star guard, is coming off a stellar high school career at St. Mary's in Manhasset, N.Y., where she recorded over 2,000 points to set a program record for the Gaels. During her senior campaign, the Long Beach, N.Y., native averaged 28.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest, to be named St. Mary's Player of the Year. The local product's success has earned her national recognition as she is ranked 91st overall by ESPN and is the No. 12 guard in the Class of 2018.

In addition to the BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year announcement, the conference also released its annual Preseason Coaches' Poll. As a team, the Red Storm was predicted to finish sixth in the league.

The Johnnies enter this season on the heels of a successful 2017-18 campaign where they made their 11th-straight postseason appearance and advanced to the WNIT Quarterfinals for the first time in program history. The Red Storm returns four of its top-five scorers from that squad, including reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Qadashah Hoppie.

The BIG EAST women's basketball head coaches evenly split their first-place votes between DePaul and Marquette, who sit tied atop the preseason poll with 77 total votes and five first-place votes apiece. Villanova, Creighton and Georgetown are slotted third, fourth and fifth with the Red Storm in the six spot. Butler, Seton Hall, Providence and Xavier rounded out the league.

The Red Storm kicks off its 2018-19 campaign on Friday, Nov. 9, traveling to Iona for a 5:30 p.m. contest inside Hynes Athletic Center.

BIG EAST Women's Basketball
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1.         DePaul (5)        77
            Marquette (5)   77
3.         Villanova          57
4.         Creighton         53
5.         Georgetown     52
6.       St. John's          48
7.         Butler               34
8.         Seton Hall        23
9.         Providence       17
10.        Xavier             12

BIG EAST Women's Basketball
Preseason Player of the Year
Allazia Blockton, Marquette, Sr., G*
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Kadaja Bailey, St. John's, Fr., G
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Jaylyn Agnew, Creighton, Jr., F*
Kelly Campbell, DePaul, Jr., G*
Erika Davenport, Marquette, Sr., F
Audrey Faber, Creighton, Sr., F
Mary Gedaka, Villanova, Jr., F
Mart'e Grays, DePaul, Sr., F*
Natisha Hiedeman, Marquette, Sr., G
Jovana Nogic, Providence, Sr., G
Tori Schickel, Butler, Sr., F/C*
Dionna White, Georgetown, Sr., G
Amani Wilborn, Marquette, Sr., G

St. John's University Athletics

Kadaja Bailey Named BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year

Players Mentioned

Kadaja Bailey

Qadashah Hoppie

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