Everyone has a talent in some area. Some people have musical talent, others have a talent in engineering, while others have talent in the athletic area. At Kean University, many athletic students are awarded for their talent and this year, a freshman basketball player has been awarded more than once for her basketball skills

Marajiah Bacon, a freshman majoring in athletic training, has won New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Rookie of The Year Honoree 12 times, eight of which being honored to her consecutively.

“It feels normal…it is what it is to me, I don’t really think about it too much,” Bacon comments about the awards she has received.

With her skills, it isn’t hard to see Bacon’s collegiate basketball career go far. She explains how “my parents got us interested into basketball,” as she speaks on behalf of her sister who also plays basketball for the Kean University’s women’s basketball team. Both Bacon and her sister play the guard position.

Bacon is one of those players that is quiet off the court but once on the court, there is nothing stopping her from making her presence known and scoring points left and right. She is currently the league-leader in the NJAC conference-only games, scoring an average of 23.5 points per game with an overall average of 24.7 points per game. Not only that, but she is also ranked sixth in conference-only games steals with an average of 3.1 steals per game and she is also second in conference-only games for free throw percentages, scoring an average of .809 per game.

With Bacon’s stats as of now, who wouldn’t say she doesn’t have a chance of going professional? But when asked about it, she responds by saying, “when I was younger I did [want to go professional]…but [as of today] if it happens, it happens.” Instead, she would like “to become an Athletic Trainer and open [her] own practice.”

“I wouldn’t be able to do what I am doing now without my coach, Mandy King,” comments Bacon and continues to say that Coach King “gave me the opportunity to come here and play for her.”

Many people don’t have that type of opportunity.  To Bacon, basketball isn’t just a sport. She comments how she hopes that “with basketball, I gain more leadership and be able to get my work done on and off the court.”

As for gaining knowledge off the court she is also dedicated to gaining a great education at the university. “While at Kean,” she says, “I hope to gain more knowledge and fulfill my own dream; I do hope to someday go to grad school.” She also comments how if she does go to the Nathan Weiss Graduate School, she would like to become the assistant to the women’s basketball team.

Recently, it was announced that Bacon is named NJAC Rookie of the Year. This marks the second consecutive season that a Kean University athlete has been honored with this title. All in all, Bacon earned her awards. She ended the season with the rest of the women’s basketball team on a high note.

For those who didn’t get to see Bacon play this season come back in the fall when the women’s basketball team begin its 2016-17 season.

Basketball player Marajiah Bacon wins NJAC Rookie of The Week eight times consecutively
Photo courtesy of Kean Athletics