When Casey Madden took the Union job two years ago, she brought her daughter Kylee with her in a package deal.
It’s turned out to be quite the package. Kylee continued a strong senior campaign on Wednesday when she signed with Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel.
As her mother and coach, Casey Madden was all smiles at the signing ceremony on Wednesday at the Union High School library.
“This is a dream that she has had since she has been in first grade,” coach Madden said. “I have always thanked the Lord for giving her the desire and ability she has for this game. To see and know how much effort and energy she has poured into this sport, to see it come to fruition, it is wonderful. I am very happy for her but I also hope for the younger girls looking up to her, when God places that desire in your heart, that with hard work, it’s attainable and you can do it.”
Kylee has had a standout season for the Yellowjackets where she averaged 15 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals per game. She passed 1,000 career points on senior night and was recently named the Division 4-2A Most Valuable Player.
“I’m very proud of her as a mother and a coach,” coach Madden said. “She plays point guard for us and any coach will tell you that the point guard is an extension of the head coach. She definitely fills that role for me and for the team. She is a leader on the floor and an extension of the coach on the floor.”
Madden signed with Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel. Her head coach says she can play wherever she is needed in college.
“She can play either point guard or shooting guard,” coach Madden said. “She has played the point guard the last two years. I really needed her to handle the basketball for me the last two years. There is no quit in her. She is mentally and physically tough. She has played with some AAU travel teams and they will tell you they love her hustle. She has that mental and physical toughness. On the court, she remains calm and doesn’t panic. She holds then down for us when things get crazy.”
The senior said she really like Southeastern and is thankful for the chance to play in college, just like her mother did at East Central.
“Everybody was very welcoming and very nice,” Kylee Madden said. “It feel like home and the coaches are great. It means the world to me because I come from a basketball family. We all love basketball in my family. I wanted to do this for myself and also for my for my pawpaw because he always wanted this for me. I love playing for my mom and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m very thankful for her pushing me in the classroom and on the court.”
