Girls Middle School Basketball

An East Hartford native, Kristalyn Baisden joins the Watkinson athletics department in a full-time capacity as Associate Athletic Director and head coach of girls varsity basketball. After majoring in Psychology at St. Joseph University (Philadelphia), she recently earned her MBA with a concentration in Leadership from Eastern University. While an undergraduate, Coach Baisden completed a stellar career as a student-athlete, competing for St. Joe’s Division I basketball team, being named to the Philadelphia Big 5 Women’s Basketball Honor Roll in 2017 and earning the Team Defensive Player of the Year Award her senior year. She gained valuable coaching experience as a graduate assistant with the Eastern University women’s basketball program. Coach Baisden brings poise, confidence and positive energy to the girls varsity basketball program.

Anna Alferi serves as both the assistant coach for girls’ Varsity basketball and the head coach for the girls middle school team. She grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, and was a three sport athlete playing soccer, basketball, and softball. Coach Alferi played on the 2009 Bacon Academy High School girls’ basketball state championship team, and was co-captain of the 2011 Hall High School basketball team. She attended the University of Tampa, graduating in three years, and immediately began as a high school English teacher at Plant High school in Tampa, Florida. At Plant High school she was the assistant girls’ Varsity basketball coach for two seasons. Returning to Connecticut, she taught and coached at Grace Academy. At Watkinson she has coached a range of activities and sports including soccer, basketball, fitness, and outdoor games.

Watkinson’s assistant coach for girls varsity basketball, Coach Chris Baisden has been a girls basketball advocate, involved with girls youth basketball for several years. He has previously coached park & rec and AAU basketball, and he assisted in the development of several Division 1 players, most notably his daughter Kristalyn. He obtained his USAB youth basketball coaching license and is currently a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).