This Peoria Notre Dame star will stay in state to play NCAA Division-I basketball

Southern Illinois-Edwardsville checked all the right boxes for Kaitlin Cassidy .

The Peoria Notre Dame senior this week verbally committed to play Division-I basketball at the Ohio Valley Conference school. Cassidy, a 5-foot-11 forward, also held an offer from Division-II Maryville and made an unofficial trip to DePaul.

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“On all of my visits,” Cassidy said, noting she made the trek to Edwardsville three times, “I kind of got to see downtown Chicago, like more rural campuses. And with SIUE, I think it’s the perfect combination of like you’re in a suburb, but also 20 minutes away from downtown St. Louis, so you kind of get a good mix of everything.

“It’s in a very peaceful, secluded area which is what I’m used to.”

SIUE first landed on Cassidy’s radar last year when she attended their elite camp. Despite an ankle injury that sidelined her most of summer 2023, Cassidy remained in contact with head coach Samantha Quigley Smith and her staff for the last 18 months, ultimately getting a scholarship offer in June.

That "endless support" was a huge "green flag" for Cassidy.

“Which is what I want from coaches,” she said of that loyalty and backing, “but I also know that when I go there, I’m going to get coached hard and that’s also what I’m looking for. I just want to be pushed 100 percent and keep working hard every day with them.”

Cassidy comes off a junior campaign where she helped PND win the Class 2A state championship . She averaged 10.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists while garnering all-Big 12 Conference first-team and Journal Star all-area honors. She is one of four returning starters expected to make a run at another state title.

Her game expanded in the offseason to around the perimeter, improving her mid-range and 3-point shot, while becoming more of a guard after playing center a lot of last season.

“Going into this season, I just want to be more versatile,” Cassidy said. “I want to be able to post up down low, while still being able to shoot outside. I think we’re really going to have the freedom to be able to do that. Not just with me, but with everyone on our team.”

This choice also comes as a big relief for Cassidy, an all-Big 12 volleyball player, who plans to sign her National Letter of Intent in November.

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“I think I’m more able to focus on my academics now especially,” she said, “and then with volleyball and everything, I just think (it’s) a huge pressure off my shoulders.”

Academically, Cassidy is weighing her options about her career outside of basketball. She loves kids and would want to go into pediatrics or labor and delivery. Or even become a physical therapist.

Regardless, she’s up for the challenge.

“I know it’ll be a hard balance between Division-I basketball,” Cassidy said, “and the medical field, but SIUE’s really worked with me on how to space things out to where I’m not overwhelmed.”

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: This Peoria Notre Dame star will stay in state to play NCAA Division-I basketball