Read Continues to Hold Court on Broadway
The past two years at New York University have put Kaitlyn Read almost in a different world from the Park Cities — geographically, culturally, and meteorologically.
Yet the one constant for Read is that she continues to shine on the basketball court, helping lead NYU to a top-10 national ranking and a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament this weekend.
Read has started every game this season for the Violets and ranks second on the team in points per game, rebounds, and assists.
Perhaps most impressively, the former Highland Park High School standout has continued to excel on the court while adjusting to the cold Manhattan winters and working toward a double major in Spanish and politics.
“The team has just been so open and nice. The girls have really helped me adjust,” Read said. “It’s awesome. I really enjoy all my professors. I have a lot of great opportunities.”
Read, a sophomore guard, is part of a youthful nucleus on a roster that had NYU challenging for University Athletic Association conference title.
“On the floor and off the floor, she has tenacity. She’s assertive and has confidence,” said NYU head coach Lauren Hall-Gregory. “All of those intangibles make her a strong young woman but also an excellent basketball player.”
Hall-Gregory has been especially impressed with Read’s consistency early in her college career, as well as her leadership ability. She recalls when Read spoke up to inspire her team in a huddle during a timeout late in the second game of her freshman season, when the Violets trailed by a few points.
“She certainly impacts the game in a variety of ways,” Hall-Gregory said. “It’s just her nature.”
Read set numerous milestones during her four years on varsity for the Lady Scots, including games played (123) and points scored (1,615). Her younger sister Mikaela was a sophomore for HP this season.
She said that among her improvements since arriving at NYU has been her three-point shooting, something that she wasn’t known for with the Lady Scots.
“My role is a little bit different,” Read said. “I think I’ve been able to balance what I do on offense. I just try to do whatever they need me to do.”
