One of our area’s best and most consistent players is staying in-state to continue her playing career at the next level.
CCA standout Maddie Carey signed with Louisiana Christian last week, giving her a collegiate home for the next 4 seasons.
Carey was a force with the Lions. A multi-year starter on several playoff teams, Carey eclipsed 1,500 career points and was one of the most successful players in the history of the program.
Carey spoke to By-U Sports this week and said to have a spot at the next level is a dream come true, saying that she is grateful for the opportunity to continue her career.
“It’s always been a dream of mine and it’s surreal that it is coming true,” she said. “I am extremely excited to continue playing basketball and I know that this opportunity is truly a gift from God.”
Louisiana Christian is getting a good one. Carey has been a mainstay in the lineup at CCA and has been a constant scorer and creator for a Lions team that has consistently been in the postseason.
Carey said her mother, CCA Coach Alesha Carey, contacted the school and Coach Anna Phillips came to a playoff game, inviting Maddie for a visit.
Carey admitted that she was unsure about Louisiana Christian before the visit, but said that she was sold after it, saying that she felt at home and is so excited to be part of the team. Louisiana Christian went 10-17 last season. They compete in the Red River Athletic Conference in the NAIA.
“If I’m being honest, LCU was at the bottom of my list until I visited,” she said. “And then I fell in love with the campus and the coach. The girls that I met were so nice as well and I’m super excited to play with them next year.”
Carey said her goal is to show up to campus ready to go to try and help the team in her freshman season as best she can. She said her senior season might be over, but she plans to continue to work hard to stay ready. Carey recently competed in the Luke Ford Jr. Bayou/River All-Star Game and made several big shots. She said she will workout as often as she can and stay ready for the fall when she reports to campus.
Carey plans to major in elementary education and hopes to be a teacher as an adult.
“I plan on staying in the gym and trying my best to stay in shape because college is a completely different level than high school,” she said. “I’ve also been practicing to make my shot more accurate and trying to improve my ball-handling skills.”
The CCA standout also said that she wants to thank everyone at CCA for a memorable career, adding that it will be different for her to wear a different uniform in the future. Carey recorded more than 100 starts as a Lion and was easily among the best players in school history. During her career, the Lions had winning seasons, won playoff games and were among the more successful programs in the Bayou Region.
”I loved playing at CCA these past 4 years,” she said. “I loved all the girls that I got to play with and I loved that my parents got to coach me. I feel like they pushed me to truly be my best.”