Riverdale, NY - Manhattan women's basketball Head Coach
Heather Vulin has added Westchester standout
Nia Bailey to her squad for the 2020-21 season.
"Nia is another exciting and dynamic local talent that will excel in our uptempo style of play," said Vulin of the 5-9 guard out of New Rochelle, NY. "We feel her athleticism and length will make her a formidable defender in the MAAC."
A product of New Rochelle High School, Bailey was a 2019-20 Conference I All-Section selection, in addition to being named a
Journal News/LoHud Girls Basketball Honorable Mention for Westchester and Putnam Counties.
During the regular season, Bailey ranked among the region's top scorers, and though defeated in the opening round of the Section I Class AA tournament this past February, she paced the seventh-seeded Huguenots with a game-high 13 points, adding seven rebounds and three steals. Bailey was named to the
Journal News/LoHud preseason "Second 7" at the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign, and she earned Section I All-Conference honors her junior year.
"I'm excited to be a Jasper," said Bailey, who also played for the Hoopers NY AAU program. "I'm going to start a new family, make new memories and win championships!"
The Jaspers finished the 2019-20 regular season 15-14 overall and 12-8 in conference play, tying for third place in the MAAC rankings, the program's best conference finish since 2011. The program will return 11 letterwinners from last year's team, including unanimous MAAC Rookie of the Year
Emily LaPointe (Staten Island, NY / Staten Island) and All-MAAC First Team selection
Courtney Warley (West Chester, PA / Bishop Shanahan). Returners also include 2017-18 MAAC Sixth Player of the Year
Gabby Cajou (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland) and 2018-19 unanimous MAAC All-Rookie Team selection
D'yona Davis (Bronx, NY / Truman), who sat out last season due to injury.
"We are excited to add Nia to our strong guard group," added Vulin, "and we look forward to seeing her impact on the court."
