Hard work, hustle and accountability; these are just a few of the words used to describe Paige Redditt, a third-year member of Eastern Michigan University’s women’s basketball team.
Redditt is described by coach AnnMarie Gilbert as “an outstanding team player.” Because of her passion for the team and willingness to give her all for this squad Redditt has grown into an exciting player to watch and certainly made her mark on the program.
The six-foot one-inch junior forward was born and raised in Kansas City, Miss. and was recruited by EMU from Belton High School. When deciding on where she would continue her education, it was the atmosphere that drew Redditt to Eastern.
“The way coach Gilbert runs the team is like my former AAU team.” Redditt said. “I felt my opportunity to play was the same as everyone else on the team.”
Since being at EMU, Redditt’s favorite thing about being there has come to be her teammates.
“We are really close.” Redditt said. “No matter what is going on with basketball or school we know we’re here for each other.”
In her spare time Redditt loves to watch movies and listen to music.
“I am a music lover,” Redditt said. “It can make me cry, it can make me happy and laugh.” Her favorite song is “The Truth” by India Arie.
As for movies, Redditt does not have a favorite, however, the best one that has come out this year, in her opinion, is “Inception.”
In her freshman year, Redditt got right to work, playing in all of the team’s 29 contests and making 12 starts. Last season Redditt started to make her mark on this team, playing in every game and starting 29 times. She came in second on the team for rebounds with 186 and placed 14th in the Mid American Conference. She also ranked 10th in the MAC for blocked shots with a total of 31 on the season.
Since coming to Eastern Gilbert and Redditt agree that her biggest improvements have come in her physical strength and confidence. Moving forward in her last two years with the Eagles, Gilbert is expecting Redditt “to be one of the best post players in the conference.”
Redditt’s impact on this team reaches much farther than the court. “She is one of the most consistent players on this team on the court and in the classroom,” Gilbert said. “She just has a great work ethic.”
It’s her work ethic that teammate Sydney Huntley-Rodgers says rubs off on the rest of the team.
“She works hard and it forces everyone to want to do the same,” Huntley-Rodgers said. “She puts pressure on everyone to work hard every day.”
In her junior season with the Eagles, Redditt has already shown that her work ethic and consistency are paying off.
She is averaging 5.7 rebounds per game, second on the team, while coming in third for scoring with an average of 9.8 points. Redditt has led the team in scoring in three of their nine contests and has come within one rebound of a double-double twice so far this season. Redditt’s statistics are just a reflection of the leader she has become to this team.
“She is a great role model for the younger post players,” Gilbert said.
Redditt’s impact on this team also comes from the personality that she carries with her everywhere. It’s an infectious personality that impacts Huntley-Rodgers and makes game day more enjoyable for her.
“She’s always smiling,” Huntley-Rodgers said. “I’ve never been in a bad mood around her; no matter where we are.”
After graduating from Eastern, Redditt plans to attend graduate school in pursuit of pharmaceutical research.
To see how the Eagles fared against Green Bay Monday, see EMU loses homes contest to Wisconsin-Green Bay, 68-44
