Mike Leonardo '21 Recruiting Profile

My life changed in 2015 when my Father died from cancer.  I had always played multiple sports but after his death, I found basketball the only sport that helped me to focus, be driven and it helped me to get out the anger I felt because of his death.

At that time, I promised myself that I would continue to remain an Honor Student, take advantage of all the opportunities that came my way and to remain focused on going to college and getting a degree.

Now, five years later, I remain committed to my promise. I am honor student.  I have taken classes as an eighth grader that ninth graders take.  In ninth grade, I took all honors classes. In tenth grade, I took an advanced placement class in history, a college level business course in which I received college credits through Keystone College and honors classes.  In my junior year, I again took college level classes, an advanced placement class, SAT prep and the other required courses.  I also won the 2020 Warrior Award for excellence in the classroom, in my school and on the court. Currently, as a Senior I am taking all the required courses and some  practical courses such as personal finances . It is my hope that when I graduate High school through my academic excellence I will be able to transfer some college credits to the college I attend and have learned the skills necessary to be successful academically in college.  I do realize this sounds easy however in 10^th grade in my Algebra2/Trigonometry class I struggled. My final grade was not what I had wanted it to be but I worked hard and succeeded.                

My father’s death has also taught me to preserver and to value the relationships with all of the people in my life. My mother is my strongest supporter. She was a Division I, Scholarship athlete at Marist College.  While at Marist she played on the Women’s basketball team and was the only two sport athlete at the time playing volleyball and earning her degree on time within four years. She is successful in her career and she has kept my family together.  My Brother is a basketball player too.  He has played at the college level and has played in Pro/Am leagues. Basketball is in my blood.

What I have learned from basketball is that the harder I work the better I become.  I have learned to be unselfish and support my teammates whether I am in the game or on the bench.   I have refereed multiple  games in youth leagues, volunteered at basketball camps  and recently while vacationing in Montana I volunteered at a basketball practice for Special Olympians. What all those experiences have taught me is that whatever level of ability or disability you have basketball is one sport that anyone can participate in, grow and love.

I have been fortunate enough to play year round basketball on multiple AAU teams outside of the school season. While playing on AAU teams, I have had the experience of being able to play on courts at various colleges and at the Basketball Hall of Fame. While at the colleges, I took the time to walk around the campuses and get a feel for what it is like to be on a campus. Through those experiences, I have solidified my goals of wanting to go to college and earn a degree while being part of a college basketball team.

Lastly, in 2018 and 2019 , my varsity team was able to play a league game at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn New York.  What an amazing feeling it was to be able to play on a professional basketball court in such a huge venue., Those memories I will always cherish.

Overall, without the commitment to my education and to the sport of basketball, I would have never been able to be as successful as I have in school and would have never been able to travel to some of the places I have been and to play against different levels of competition.  Those different levels of competition have only made me more determined to increase my knowledge of the game and to improve my skills. 

It is now time to take on more challenges!