Senior Spotlight: Darren Bailey is going places

Editor’s note: This is a weekly series dedicated to highlighting local senior athletes.

SANDPOINT — At this point in the year, many high school seniors are still searching for what they want to do with the rest of their lives, but not Darren Bailey.

Darren isn’t like most kids. He knows exactly what he wants to do and the steps he has to take to get to where he wants to go. And that future could be in space.

“I could be on the ship to Mars, you never know,” he joked.

The senior point guard on the Sandpoint boys basketball team loves being on the court, but his interest in what’s above is out of this world.

Right now, Darren is waiting to hear back from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He is hoping to study aerospace engineering with an emphasis in astronautics. Basically, he wants to design satellites and rockets that can collect data in space.

He is also interested in attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.

“Ever since I was a kid I’ve always been interested in the universe and space,” Darren said. “I’ve always wanted to build and design stuff that not only advances human exploration, but build new technology with the leading minds across the globe. I just feel like it would be a very fun and challenging job.”

The person that sparked Darren’s desire for the field was Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Chad Bailey, Darren’s father, said his son watched one of Tyson’s shows every Friday during his seventh grade science class and it opened his eyes to the wonders of space.

“It’s what drives him,” Chad said.

On the basketball court, Darren started playing rec league at about 4 years old. He said he tried every sport growing up, but as time went on, basketball became the sport he enjoyed the most.

Darren has also played baseball for most of his life and recently took up golf, but there’s just something about basketball that makes him want more and more.

“Through the sport of basketball you build friends, you build chemistry with them and you form really good buddies,” he said.

Darren and his family moved to Sandpoint prior to his freshman year in 2017. Before that, the Baileys lived in Friday Harbor, Washington, for two years and in Hayden for over a decade.

Darren’s older sister, Ciera Bailey, graduated from SHS in 2018 and is currently on the Lewis-Clark State College cross country and track teams.

Ciera played basketball for most of her life and Chad said Darren watched her growing up and had some big shoes to fill once he started playing the sport.

Darren is one of three captains for the Bulldogs this season, but just over a year ago he had his junior season ripped away in an instant.

Minutes into the 2019 season opener at St. Maries, Bailey dislocated his left kneecap and tore a ligament. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered the same injury just weeks earlier.

Chad said he sat with his son just moments after he suffered the season-ending injury and he could tell how painful it was. But the injury didn’t knock Darren’s spirits and he was cleared to return for summer basketball in May.

Chad said the discipline and determination his son had throughout the recovery process was amazing to see.

“He never really got down, I didn’t have to lift him up too much,” Chad said. “He listened and knew what had to happen … He took it in stride and I know it was hard to deal with, but he did real well with it.”

Chad said the injury taught Darren how to get back up when he gets knocked down.

“That was a big life lesson because that’s what happens in the real world when you're an adult,” he said. “Things just change and you can’t control it.”

After suffering such a devastating injury, Darren could have hung up his sneakers and never put on a Sandpoint jersey ever again. But that thought never crossed his mind and he wasn’t going to miss a chance to leave his impression on the talented young players coming up through the program.

“This team means the most to me out of the four years I’ve been here,” he said. “I want to be there for my team and it’s my last year. Why let an injury hold you back from playing your last year of high school basketball. Because 30 years down the road you’re going to be like, ‘Wow I didn’t play my senior year of basketball, I wish I would have played.’”

Darren is attacking his final season with no regrets and plans on making as many memories as possible. He said winning the district title and getting Sandpoint back to state for the first time in over a decade would be a great way to go out and is soaking up every moment on the court this winter.

“You know it’s going to be over in a few months and you’ll never be able to do it again,” he said.

Darren’s unselfishness is evident on and off the court. Sure it’s nice to score 10 or 15 points in a game, Darren said, but it’s all about doing whatever it takes for the betterment of the team.

“Seeing the team win and the team perform at the highest level we can perform at is the most satisfying thing,” he said.

Darren’s willingness to care for others comes from his mom, Dee, and two sisters, Chad said, and basketball has helped shape the senior’s personality.

Chad said Darren is always willing to go the extra mile and he’s mature, intelligent, likable and emphatic, and basketball has a lot to do with that.

After having his junior season of basketball taken away, Darren couldn’t have been more excited to take the court this year.

“He’s just been all smiles,” Chad said.

Outside of basketball, Darren loves to fish and hike. He also enjoys spending time at the ocean and if he gets into Cal Poly he might give surfing a try.

“I definitely wouldn’t bleach my hair though,” he joked. “I wouldn’t go full surfer on them.”

Darren was elevated to varsity during his sophomore year and has scored 27 points in three games this season.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Darren’s parents haven’t been able to watch him play in-person this winter. Chad said it would be great to be inside the gym, but the livestreamed games have opened new doors for Darren’s grandparents who typically can’t watch him play.

Darren still has a few more months left on the court, but looking back his favorite memory with the team came during the summer before his junior year. Sandpoint participated in the Gonzaga University men’s basketball camp and Darren said they got to scrimmage on the court inside the McCarthey Athletic Center and see players like Corey Kispert and Drew Timme up close. It’s something he’ll never forget.

Chad and Dee are extremely proud of their son and Chad said they look at Darren and “wonder how has he gotten to this point.”

“It would be nice to think we’ve had something to do with how well Darren has done academically and athletically in high school,” Dee said, “but the truth is he has made great choices, found good peers and really applies himself. He is just one of those kids that has what it takes to go far and we are blessed to be his parents.”

Darren said he will always look to his parents as role models.

“They keep pushing me towards success and that’s about all you can ask for,” he said. “They taught me everything I know.”