Hayes commits to Hope College basketball

Lowell senior Mady Hayes has committed to Hope to play basketball.

Lowell senior Mady Hayes will continue her basketball career at the collegiate level after committing to Hope College.

Hayes, a Class of 2027 shooting guard and small forward, has been a varsity player for the Red Arrows since her sophomore season. Wearing No. 22, she has developed into one of Lowell’s key players over the past two years and will enter her senior season with multiple postseason honors already on her resume.

Hayes earned all-conference recognition following both her sophomore and junior seasons. After the 2025-26 season, she was also named honorable mention to the MLive Dream Team alongside Lowell teammate Avary Slanger.

Her commitment to Hope fulfills a goal that has been years in the making.

“Playing college basketball has always been a goal of mine, and I’m so excited to continue my journey at Hope,” Hayes said.

Basketball has been a major part of Hayes’ life since elementary school. She grew up around the sport with an older brother who also played, while her father coached both children throughout their youth basketball careers.

Mady’s commitment graphic.

That meant Hayes was often in the gym even when it was not technically her practice.

“My dad would bring me along to my brother’s practices and let me play with the boys team,” Hayes said. “Having an older brother helped a lot with the physical and competitive aspect of basketball.”

Hayes began taking the sport more seriously in seventh grade when she joined her first AAU team. From there, basketball became a year-round commitment for Hayes and her family.

“Whether it’s trainings, practices, or games, my family has spent countless hours in different gyms over the years,” Hayes said.

That work eventually translated into a varsity opportunity at Lowell. Hayes joined the varsity program as a sophomore and quickly established herself as a regular contributor, earning all-conference honors in her first varsity season before repeating the accomplishment as a junior.

Her junior season last year brought additional recognition with the MLive Dream Team honorable mention selection, giving Lowell two players on the list with Hayes and Slanger.

Mady has been an important part of the girls program, a starter on varsity since her sophomore year.

Hope College, located in Holland, competes at the NCAA Division III level as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The Flying Dutch women’s basketball program has established itself as one of the more successful Division III programs in Michigan, giving Hayes an opportunity to continue competing at a high level while remaining relatively close to home. The team went 18-10 last season including being champions of the MIAA Tournament.

Before turning her attention to college basketball, Hayes still has one final season remaining with Lowell in the winter.