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Crean Lutheran guard Kaiden Bailey led the Saints to a win Sunday at Tustin High School. (Photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Crean Lutheran High School guard Kaiden Bailey went into the California Live Basketball Tournament as one of the top players to watch in the state based on his performance last season.
Bailey, who will be a sophomore in the fall, undoubtedly helped himself in the tournament, which attracted more than 175 college coaches who were on hand to watch the 163 teams playing over the weekend in Irvine, Tustin, Mission Viejo, Costa Mesa, San Juan Capistrano and Capistrano Valley.
In the team’s final game Sunday, Bailey scored 18 points to lead Crean Lutheran past Valencia of Valencia, earning the Saints a split in the highest division of the event.
Bailey has been moved to the point guard position for the Saints next season.
Bailey, who helped lead the Saints to the Empire League title last season, said he hasn’t made up his mind yet about the future.
“I don’t know where I’m going to go yet,” he said Sunday. “I have four offers right now, but I’m just trying to focus on developing as a player.”
The four Division 1 offers have come from UT-Arlington, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and Seattle University, Bailey said.
“He’s a playmaker, he makes plays, he can score the ball at all levels,” Crean Lutheran Coach Nate Klitzing said Sunday. “There were a lot of coaches out here watching him, we had USC and UCLA and a bunch of schools that are power teams and a lot of his current offers like UC Santa Barbara and Seattle University that are great programs as well. I’m really excited for him, he’s going to keep getting better, he’s not even a sophomore yet.”
Bailey said he enjoyed playing in the tournament and is looking forward to the fall leading the Saints.
“We’re looking very promising next year,” he said. “We’ve got some great pieces and we have some more height, we’re looking good.”
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—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
