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Pick a winner: MIAA semifinals
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Girls Athlete of the Week: Imani Bailey, Meade, basketball
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Boys Athlete of the Week: Eric Friedman, St. Paul's, wrestling
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Athletes of the Week: 2011-12
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High school sports: May
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High school sports: April
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- Meade Senior High School, 1100 Clark Rd, Fort Meade, MD 20755, USA
With a versatile game that mixes a little small forward and a lot of point guard with her natural shooting guard abilities, Imani Bailey leads a Meade girls basketball team that has dominated Anne Arundel County and appears headed for a second straight trip to the District V championship against the Howard County champ.
Bailey, a 5-foot-8 senior, averages 23.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 4.8 steals per game for the No. 6 Mustangs (15-5). An AAU veteran, she was coached by her father in her early years. The 17-year-old has a 3.5 GPA and plans to become a nurse. After her initial commitment to La Salle, she changed her mind and signed in November to play college basketball at Howard.
How did you get started playing basketball?
When I was 7, I played soccer and I was pretty good at that. My dad would work my brother out, and I wanted to dribble like my brother, so I picked up a ball one day and just fell in love with it.
What are the pros and cons of having a coach for a dad?
At first, in middle school, I hated it. I did not like him. I wanted to quit because it was so hard and he never had a favorite. He basically yelled at me the most. I had a birthday party, and he scheduled a game on that day. I was like, "I hate basketball." But looking back, I'm glad I played. I'm glad he was there.
Do you look to him for advice?
Yes, I always come to my dad. He works me out. He's basically my trainer.
Do you ever butt heads?
Not anymore. We're really close now.
What's your role on this Meade team?
My role is to be the leader, to pick everyone up and to give them confidence. We are a team.
You play point guard a lot and you score a lot of points, how do you keep everybody happy in that role?
With my game, I'm very unselfish. I look to pass first and I tell my team I have confidence in them. That's why I look to pass first and shoot second.
You take a lot of 3-point shots. What do you like about the long 3-pointers?
Since I was 9, I used to shoot from way behind the 3-point line. It all started off with me and my father. We used to play around shooting all the way back there and I just love shooting from out there.
What's the best part of your game?
My passing. I don't work on it that much, it just comes.
What are you working to get better at?
Bailey, a 5-foot-8 senior, averages 23.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 4.8 steals per game for the No. 6 Mustangs (15-5). An AAU veteran, she was coached by her father in her early years. The 17-year-old has a 3.5 GPA and plans to become a nurse. After her initial commitment to La Salle, she changed her mind and signed in November to play college basketball at Howard.
How did you get started playing basketball?
When I was 7, I played soccer and I was pretty good at that. My dad would work my brother out, and I wanted to dribble like my brother, so I picked up a ball one day and just fell in love with it.
What are the pros and cons of having a coach for a dad?
At first, in middle school, I hated it. I did not like him. I wanted to quit because it was so hard and he never had a favorite. He basically yelled at me the most. I had a birthday party, and he scheduled a game on that day. I was like, "I hate basketball." But looking back, I'm glad I played. I'm glad he was there.
Do you look to him for advice?
Yes, I always come to my dad. He works me out. He's basically my trainer.
Do you ever butt heads?
Not anymore. We're really close now.
What's your role on this Meade team?
My role is to be the leader, to pick everyone up and to give them confidence. We are a team.
You play point guard a lot and you score a lot of points, how do you keep everybody happy in that role?
With my game, I'm very unselfish. I look to pass first and I tell my team I have confidence in them. That's why I look to pass first and shoot second.
You take a lot of 3-point shots. What do you like about the long 3-pointers?
Since I was 9, I used to shoot from way behind the 3-point line. It all started off with me and my father. We used to play around shooting all the way back there and I just love shooting from out there.
What's the best part of your game?
My passing. I don't work on it that much, it just comes.
What are you working to get better at?
The Baltimore Sun's All-Metro selections in baseball, softball, boys and girls lacrosse, and boys and girls track and field. Other teams are listed below:
