Bailey Making His Mark At Chaminade In Sport He Loves
Chaminade standout Lee Bailey
Chaminade was not on Lee Bailey’s list of potential colleges when he was a star player at highly regarded Detroit County Day school. That all changed when then-newly installed Silversword head coach Eric Bovaird suddenly entered the picture.
“It was late in the recruiting process, but we hit it off right away,” Bailey said of his relationship with Bovaird. “He told me how it was going to be his first year, too, and that made me more comfortable because he was taking a chance. When he offered a full scholarship, I called back a day or so later and accepted. I’ve loved every day of it here.”
Bailey became an instant impact player for Chaminade, going on to earn co-Freshman of the Year honors in the PacWest Conference following the 2011-12 season. Through six games this season, Bailey is averaging 14 points per game and four assists per outing. Chaminade begins a five-game home stand at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at McCabe Gym hosting Northwood University.
Bailey recently took some time to visit with MidWeek‘s East Oahu Islander.
What is your earliest basketball-related memory? Winning a PAL championship with my first team. I remember it was an 8-and-under league and we were all 6 or under. I stayed playing with that group for years. That was a factor in me continuing to play.
Who’s had the biggest impact on your life? Both of my parents (Renee and Lee). Basketball-wise, it would be my father. He coached me, and I saw how committed he was to helping me, and that made me want to work as hard as him.
What part of your game did you work on during the off-season? My lateral quickness and trying to maintain consistency with my jump shot. I’d been kind of a streaky shooter. I wanted to make sure I was shooting every jump shot the same way.
What’s the best part of playing college basketball at Chaminade? The freedom and high tempo that we play at. Our coach gives us the freedom to play our game. He’s not restrictive. I like the trust he has in his players.
What is your favorite road destination in the PacWest? First it was Grand Canyon because they have ridiculous facilities. Now, I like playing the Bay Area teams like Dominican. They have a hostile crowd there, and I like that.
In addition to its proud basketball tradition, Chaminade is known for being a close-knit community. How have you enjoyed campus life there? I like how tight it is. That helps you to meet people you’d normally not have interaction with.
Who is your most competitive teammate in practice? Tyree Harrison. He’s a senior, and he really has the will to win. He goes hard in every drill. He sets the tone.
What is your least favorite household chore? Cleaning the dishes. I’m not a fan of it. I’d rather take out the trash.
Who are three of your favorite musical artists? Drake, Jay-Z and Chance the Rapper.
College kids are known to enjoy video games as a stress reliever. Do you play video games? What are your favorites? I have a PS3. I just got Battle Field, which I’m pretty excited about. I also like FIFA (Soccer) and (NBA) 2K.
You’re stuck on Kahoolawe and can have an endless supply of just one food. What would it be? Chicken Tenders.
If you could have your pick, who would you choose for a celebrity date on a Saturday night? (actresses) Megan Fox or Meagan Good.
