Hadley Hadju rushes out onto the court after the announcers declare her name. As she high-fives her teammates, she radiates confidence and eagerness for the big game ahead. After she completes her pre-game ritual, she stands in the center of the court with a rival player to win the tip-off. Hadju jumps high and with assertiveness wins the jump ball to gain possession for the start of the game.
Hadju is a senior women’s basketball player and student at Revere High School. She attended Revere schools from kindergarten to eighth grade before her high school transfer to Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (CVCA). While she enjoyed her time on CVCA’s team, she felt it would be fit to have one more year at the district where she grew up. Basketball is her passion, but outside of the sport, Hadju volunteers within Revere and stays busy outside of school.
Hadju started playing basketball in the fourth grade. Her motivation to keep working and continue her love for the sport is her faith.
“Something that has kept me motivated is God, I know that he gave me gifts and I want to be able to use them to my full potential,” Hadju said.
Hailey Janke, a senior and captain of the women’s basketball team, plays alongside Hadju. The two started playing together in fourth grade until Hadju transferred to CVCA, and were reunited for their senior season. Janke expressed that Hadju possesses specific qualities that make her stand out on the team.
“Hadley is a hard working, persistent and confident player. She leads with voice but also with action,” Janke said.
Not only is Hadju involved in the community and basketball, but she also has a love for singing. Throughout her singing career she has had a few setbacks that she gradually came over with the help of her worship choir.
“I could always sing, but I had really bad stage fright. I was way too nervous to sing in front of a crowd by myself. When I went to CVCA they had a worship team, and I really felt it was my calling to try out for it,” Hadju said.
During her time at CVCA, Hadju felt that she was confident in displaying these singing skills to an audience. She began to sign the National Anthem before her sporting events to give her a confidence boost before the game.
“After I made the worship team at CVCA and was singing in front of the whole school I realized it would be really cool if I sang the National Anthem. So, for my first home game for basketball I sang the National Anthem. Then every home game after that I sang for CVCA,” Hadju said.
The confidence she gained throughout her time at CVCA prompted her to take her talents to Revere. Hadju sang the anthem before the women’s soccer senior night, along with her own women’s basketball senior night.
There was a specific game this season that Hadju would say was one of the most successful moments in her high school career, and there is no one she can thank more than her team.
“The most successful moment that I have had was a great win against Aurora, and as a team we played outstanding. I had a career high of thirty points along with eleven rebounds. It was something that was a huge accomplishment for me and I am so thankful to have a great group of girls at Revere High School that supported me and helped me get there,” Hadju said.
Hadju’s strong love for the game continues to stand out to her coaches and teammates. Hadju’s biggest supporters are her coaches. They have nothing but good things to say about her continual success on the team. Julia Riley, the women’s assistant Varsity coach, describes what stands out about Hadju.
“Overall, Hadley is a learner. She’s always talking, asking questions, wanting clarification, wanting to improve, wanting to understand. When she’s not practicing with the team, she’s training with her trainer. When she’s not training with her trainer, she’s watching film or doing something else that involves bettering herself in the game of basketball. It’s very respectable,” Riley said.
Her teammates agree with Riley on that, Janke explained how Hadju lifts her up during the season.
“Hadley is one of the best teammates I’ve had, she listens to my ideas but also constructs me on what I can improve on. She is just a great player with such a love for the game,” Janke said.
Riley also explained that throughout the season Hadjus dedication shows when she is forced to take on new positions and make herself uncomfortable if it will help her team succeed.
“She mainly played the point guard this season, but also played a post at times. That should show her level of talent and her willingness to play whatever position needed to put her team in a winning position,” Riley said.
As a graduating senior this year, Hadju is committed to continuing her basketball and academic career at a division two NAIA school, Mount Vernon University (MVU). Here, she plans to study nursing. Having received many offers from different colleges, MVU felt like home to her.
“I had a couple options for schools that I was really interested in, but at MVU felt like the right choice. Right when I walked into their gym something in my heart told me I was going to be spending the next four years at this school. But I would say the overall environment of the school had led me to feel like it was the perfect fit for me,” Hadju said.
Hadju’s faith, leadership, passion for basketball, and community involvement have set her up for great success in her future as a college basketball athlete and nurse.
