St. John's University Athletics
From Camper to Leader: A Look Into Kadaja Bailey’s St. John’s Journey
11/3/2022 9:58:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Redshirt senior readies for final season in the same place her basketball career began
Nearly 15 years ago, Kadaja Bailey stepped into Taffner Field House on St. John's campus for a youth basketball camp, her first introduction the sport. Today, Bailey, 22, remains in that same gym where her basketball journey began and has grown into an undoubted leader for the women's basketball program.
For Bailey, her athletic journey began in a different kind of gym, as she grew up doing gymnastics.
"I'm not going to lie, I didn't like basketball, I did gymnastics at first," Bailey said. "When people used to come to my gymnastics tournaments, they would say 'she is really tall and she would be good at basketball', but I never considered that because I don't like basketball, this is what I want to do."
That all changed when her mother signed her up for a week of basketball instruction in Queens that ultimately altered her path.
From then on, attending camps at St. John's became a routine as she frequented the Johnnies prospect clinics and began to form a bond with Head Coach Joe Tartamella. When it came time for the recruiting process, her experiences growing up made it a no-brainer.
"I didn't look at any other schools, it was the fact that I used to get invited to the St. John's elite camps, summer camps, so I just came to those," said Bailey. "And that's how I decided 'I think I want to play here, I see myself playing here'."
Four seasons and 115 games later, Tartamella and Bailey will embark on their final season together as player and coach in 2022-23.
"She just needed to know that she had a chance to play here on a scholarship in ninth grade," Tartamella said. "When you build the relationship early in the recruiting process you hope it stands the test of time when it comes to the point for a decision."
Over the course of those nine years, Bailey has been able to become not only a better player and teammate, but to also mature through her consistency in how she approaches every day in her academics and basketball.
Bailey knew from day one that St. John's would provide her with everything that she would need to not only strive on the court and in the classroom. She was a local kid coming to a nearby program that believed in her from day one.
"She picked a place that has allowed her to grow in many areas, but more specifically being able to become more mature," Tartamella said. "For her to be here for five years in the current state of athletics is a testament to her and our relationship in that she stayed her entire time here."
Growing up just over 10 miles away in Long Beach on Long Island, Bailey has grown into significantly on-and-off the court, as she lives out her collegiate hoops dreams in the familiar confines of Carnesecca Arena.
"It means everything, playing at your home so everyone family and friends can come and watch you," Bailey said. "This means everything, it's home."
The close proximity to home has allowed her support group to be in the crowd and allows her biggest supporter, her mom, to always be there. Her mom has attended every home at the university and never misses a game, oftentimes taking time off work to be in the stands.
After breaking a school record scoring over 2,000 points at St. Mary's High School, Bailey burst onto the scene as she was named the conference's preseason freshman of the year in 2018. The local product appeared in all 31 games and was tabbed to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team. In seasons to come, the versatile guard continued to prove herself and showcase her prolific shooting ability as her minutes increased.
Last season, she took yet another jump and averaged a career-best 14.2 points per game, which ranked eighth in the BIG EAST. In the regular season finale at Marquette on Feb. 27, Bailey etched herself in the record books as became the 28th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000 career-point mark. Following the 2021-22 season she was named to the All-MET Third Team.
Over the course of her career, Bailey has been reliable from the charity stripe, knocking down 77 percent of her free-throws, which ranks eighth all-time in St. John's history.
This year, the redshirt senior Is back in Queens the Johnnies top returning scorer and received a nod to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. With her final season just a few days away she's poised to lead the program in the same place where her basketball journey began.
"I think we all have the same mindset, everybody wants to win, everybody wants to work hard," Bailey said. "I feel like it is also a good thing too, you got people that want to help you get better and you want to help others do the same."
For Bailey, her athletic journey began in a different kind of gym, as she grew up doing gymnastics.
"I'm not going to lie, I didn't like basketball, I did gymnastics at first," Bailey said. "When people used to come to my gymnastics tournaments, they would say 'she is really tall and she would be good at basketball', but I never considered that because I don't like basketball, this is what I want to do."
That all changed when her mother signed her up for a week of basketball instruction in Queens that ultimately altered her path.
From then on, attending camps at St. John's became a routine as she frequented the Johnnies prospect clinics and began to form a bond with Head Coach Joe Tartamella. When it came time for the recruiting process, her experiences growing up made it a no-brainer.
"I didn't look at any other schools, it was the fact that I used to get invited to the St. John's elite camps, summer camps, so I just came to those," said Bailey. "And that's how I decided 'I think I want to play here, I see myself playing here'."
Four seasons and 115 games later, Tartamella and Bailey will embark on their final season together as player and coach in 2022-23.
"She just needed to know that she had a chance to play here on a scholarship in ninth grade," Tartamella said. "When you build the relationship early in the recruiting process you hope it stands the test of time when it comes to the point for a decision."
Over the course of those nine years, Bailey has been able to become not only a better player and teammate, but to also mature through her consistency in how she approaches every day in her academics and basketball.
Bailey knew from day one that St. John's would provide her with everything that she would need to not only strive on the court and in the classroom. She was a local kid coming to a nearby program that believed in her from day one.
"She picked a place that has allowed her to grow in many areas, but more specifically being able to become more mature," Tartamella said. "For her to be here for five years in the current state of athletics is a testament to her and our relationship in that she stayed her entire time here."
Growing up just over 10 miles away in Long Beach on Long Island, Bailey has grown into significantly on-and-off the court, as she lives out her collegiate hoops dreams in the familiar confines of Carnesecca Arena.
"It means everything, playing at your home so everyone family and friends can come and watch you," Bailey said. "This means everything, it's home."
The close proximity to home has allowed her support group to be in the crowd and allows her biggest supporter, her mom, to always be there. Her mom has attended every home at the university and never misses a game, oftentimes taking time off work to be in the stands.
After breaking a school record scoring over 2,000 points at St. Mary's High School, Bailey burst onto the scene as she was named the conference's preseason freshman of the year in 2018. The local product appeared in all 31 games and was tabbed to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team. In seasons to come, the versatile guard continued to prove herself and showcase her prolific shooting ability as her minutes increased.
Last season, she took yet another jump and averaged a career-best 14.2 points per game, which ranked eighth in the BIG EAST. In the regular season finale at Marquette on Feb. 27, Bailey etched herself in the record books as became the 28th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000 career-point mark. Following the 2021-22 season she was named to the All-MET Third Team.
Over the course of her career, Bailey has been reliable from the charity stripe, knocking down 77 percent of her free-throws, which ranks eighth all-time in St. John's history.
This year, the redshirt senior Is back in Queens the Johnnies top returning scorer and received a nod to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. With her final season just a few days away she's poised to lead the program in the same place where her basketball journey began.
"I think we all have the same mindset, everybody wants to win, everybody wants to work hard," Bailey said. "I feel like it is also a good thing too, you got people that want to help you get better and you want to help others do the same."
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