The first time Lauren Bailey walked onto the court as a freshman at Mount Olive High School, she already had a vision: she wanted to leave a mark. Not just by playing hard, or showing up for practice, but by joining an elite club—scoring 1,000 career points in basketball.

“I wanted it by my junior year,” she said. “A lot of people reach that goal, but they do it as seniors. I wanted to get there sooner.”

And she did.

Lauren reached the 1,000-point milestone during her junior season—mid-game, second quarter, with her teammates rallying around her and her coach already quietly organizing a celebration. The moment came just one game after she nearly pulled it off against Dupo, needing a 37-point game to make it happen. That game came up just short—but the next one, against East Alton, sealed the deal.

The milestone is impressive on its own, but it’s the intention behind it—the focus, the work, the quiet resolve—that makes it so telling of who Lauren is becoming.

“She set this goal years ago,” said Coach Punky Hittmeier, who took over the girls’ basketball program the year Lauren entered high school. “And she worked for it. Every day. Every season. It’s been amazing to see how she’s grown—not just as a player, but as a leader.”

That leadership is clear not only in her stats but in her mindset. “Freshman year I was pretty self-centered,” Lauren admitted. “But as I’ve gotten older, it’s more about the team. I want to help the whole team get better, not just myself.”

Coach Hittmeier has seen that evolution firsthand. “Her ability to elevate the players around her—that’s the difference,” she said. “That’s what takes a good player and makes them great.”

Lauren’s growth on the court mirrors her trajectory off of it. Though basketball has played a huge role in her high school story, softball is her primary sport. In fact, she recently committed to McKendree University, where she’ll study biology with plans to become a flight nurse.

“I’ve got a plan,” she said, and it’s hard to argue with her focus. She’s already mapped out the next several years—not just with ambition, but with a strong sense of purpose.

The community has taken notice. Coach Hittmeier was surprised by how deeply involved Mount Olive parents and fans are, noting how full the stands are—even for away games. “When I played here, it wasn’t like that,” she said. “Now, the support is just incredible.”

Lauren is part of that shift. A visible, dedicated student-athlete who others look up to—especially younger girls just discovering their own love for sports.

“She’s kind of our answer to Caitlin Clark,” Hittmeier said with a smile.

Lauren didn’t say it—but she didn’t have to.