For Kasey Kidwell, embarking on a journey in sports was a no-brainer. Following in her older brother's footsteps, Kasey remembers playing basketball and baseball growing up in Asheville, North Carolina, and quickly becoming intrigued by the competitive nature of the space. It was around 12-13 years old that she decided to hang up her cleats and fully explore the opportunities in the world of basketball. In her mind, it was clear. From then on, she would work day in and day out to earn a collegiate scholarship in hopes of playing professionally one day. Sure enough, over her high school career she achieved just that. After graduating from Carolina Day School, Kasey embarked on her collegiate basketball career at Austin Peay State University—where she played for four years before transferring to Queens University of Charlotte. Throughout her time in college, Kasey developed her skills on the floor, fostered her identity both on and off the court, and strengthened her leadership skills. Qualities that would prove to inch her closer to her dreams of playing the game at the highest level. Upon graduating from Queens, Kasey signed her first professional contract with Herner TC of the Damen Basketball Bundesliga. She had done it. She had achieved her childhood dream of playing overseas professionally. The rest is history! Currently playing in Germany, Kasey is eager to immerse herself in this new chapter of her career and expand her basketball IQ further in the space.
Take us through your collegiate career at Austin Peay and Queens University of Charlotte! Could you share more with us about your undergrad and graduate basketball career?
Yeah! At Austin Peay, it was challenging. I'm not gonna lie. I really wanted more for myself at Austin Peay and I don't think I was able to get that. I was kind of a role player and I've always seen more for myself. I know COVID sucked, but I was so thankful that we all had a COVID year. At the graduate level, I was a lot older. You just know more about the game in your fifth year. I had a coach that believed in me and wanted me to succeed. She knew (about) my goals after college to play pro overseas, and she wanted that for me. She gave me confidence in myself as well. I was able to literally double my stats, and be way more comfortable and confident on the court. I had a big leadership role at Queens (as well) because everybody was a lot younger than me—I was the oldest on the team. They called me “the grandma” (*laughs*). I loved Queens. I loved Austin Peay too, but I just feel like the role that I had at Queens was much needed and I loved it for sure.
You had an incredible career at Queens—not only leading the team in three-pointers made and assists during your time there, but also having a prominent leadership role within the team. What did achieving those milestones mean to you?
They meant a lot. Off the court, with (those) leadership roles, I got more comfortable with my communication. A lot of that on the court (growth) led off the court as well, and I was just thankful for it. Being in Charlotte just helped grow my own self and grow my brand off the court as well. I was just telling my mom earlier today: “I would have loved to have gone to Queens my freshman year if I could redo it, you know what I mean?” But, I know God has me on the right path and everything happens for a reason. I was definitely thankful for my last year (though) that I ended up at Queens in Charlotte because everything turned out really well for me.
How do you think your game elevated throughout your time in college to prepare you now for the next level?
Just being more confident. I think, (at first), I wasn’t confident. Now I'm more confident on the court, I am able to still have a voice, and still have that leadership role overseas even though I'm a rookie. The team that I'm on right now, we're still very young—there's a lot of rookies on our team and people that are young and my age—, but I think where I'm at is a great point for me to start my rookie year and still have that advantage to be a leader on the (floor) as well.
What was that moment like of signing your first professional contract and officially embarking on your professional basketball career?