Aleena Mongerie '21 Recruiting Profile

I still can remember the first time someone told me that I was athletic. It was actually my AAU coach, AL. I found myself consumed by the desire to add the skill behind the athleticism and to put in the hard work that was needed to work on my craft. I cried at first just because it was hard but after the tears had dried up I found that I truly had a passion for the sport of basketball. Wanting to be the fastest on the court and driving to the basket for the strong left handed lay up. My dad would always say, “Go left Aleena because everyone expect girls to go right.” It was not until this past season in AAU when the Lady Region Elite team traveled to Florida for a national tournament and a showcase where we won 1^st place in both having to complete with athletes from different regions of the country was great! Then came freshmen year high school basketball season where I had the opportunity to be a starter on the high schools variaty team.

Growing up the oldest of three girls and stern parents from a far more conservative culture, I have gotten used to being the leader—logically and creatively—to get things that other children got easily. A visit to a friend’s house is far and few in between. Leading on the court has become a microcosm for the way I am; talking to my team mates and shooting a free throw are now as natural for me as eating and breathing, and the phrase “You’re fast or athletic, and a great basketball player” has become a universal response, the grudging alternative to a full surrender.
With family members, friends, and girlfriends all ending arguments by telling me what a good player I am, it did not take long for me to start wondering: I realized then that I did not know exactly what being a girls basketball player on the next level was all about until this past season. I was certainly familiar with playing up against juniors and seniors. It was amazing when my high Coach Davidson seen the same skill and work ethic that my AAU coach Rudy had seen the entire summer. When coach Davidson informed the local newspaper that I was the top newcomer. I was super excited to assist both him and my new Varsity teammates to changing up the high schools record.     

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity’s I have received so far and I am looking forward to the rest of my career as a student athlete on the next level..... Aleena Mongerie