Anthony Martinelli '25 Recruiting Profile

Hi, my name is Anthony. I’m 16 years old and will turn 17 in December. I’m currently a senior at Dysart High School. I was born in Pesaro, a small town on the east coast of Italy. I’m the child of an Italian father and an American mother. Thanks to my dual citizenship, I had the opportunity to spend a year abroad and earn my diploma here in the U.S.

One of the things that most people know about me is my passion for basketball. I come from a basketball family—my father played for various teams in Italy, and my mother played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats. She was drafted into the WNBA, then moved to Italy to be with my father. There, she played with Italian teams and the Italian national team. Basketball has always been a part of my life. I started playing when I was about six years old and haven’t stopped since. For the past 11 years, I’ve been playing with Delfino Basket Pesaro, and I believe that my experience as a European player adds value. European basketball is quite different from American basketball, which I think could be an asset to the team.

Academically, I’ve always been a strong student, attentive and engaged in class, especially in subjects that interest me. I consider myself a good classmate, always ready to help others who might be struggling. I have a strong affinity for scientific subjects like math, physics, and biology. I find logic-based subjects come naturally to me, and I enjoy them. As a child, I was inspired by my grandfather, who was a pharmacist, and I initially considered following in his footsteps. However, I’ve recently developed an interest in business management as well. Both fields seem appealing to me.

My goal is to earn a full athletic scholarship, which would allow me to support four years of college while playing in NCAA Division I or Division II.