Jordan Leach '25 Recruiting Profile

Growing up I was always a great athlete, so playing sports was easy for me. I was lucky that I inherited that gift from my dad. He was a talented semi-professional football player when he was younger, and he now uses his athletic skills and experience to train kids to improve their ability to play competitive sports. I am fortunate that I have had his guidance and training throughout my childhood as I played baseball, football, and basketball, and ran track. Although I didn’t follow in his footsteps to become a famous wide receiver, I did discover my love for basketball. 

When I am not at basketball practice, I work out with my dad to hone my skills. I push myself hard to continue to improve my ball handling and strong physical defense. We practice drills so I can jump higher and run faster. He reminds me to hold my head up and see the court. As soon as we get home from my games, we sit down and watch the film. We discuss what I did well, how I can do even better, and he helps me understand why as we prepare for the next game. I have learned that this hard work and discipline is reflected in my strong basketball IQ.

Sports have taught me a lot about myself, especially basketball. I know the importance of being a good teammate and communicating on and off the court. I have learned to respect a lot of different people, and how important it is to be coachable and listen, and to always work hard no matter what the circumstances. Recently, I have learned the critical impact mental toughness can have on performance. This is not discussed enough with young athletes. So, I have been focusing extra energy practicing positive habits, such as positive self-talk, setting realistic goals, practicing self-compassion, and stepping out of my comfort zone. This is not only important on the court but is valuable in life outside of sports.

This year, I have been awarded captain of our varsity team for the 2023-24 Basketball season. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with my coach and team in a leadership position. I have also been named a 2023-24 Newsday Top 100 Boys Basketball Player on Long Island and was recently awarded MVP in the Macie’s Mission tournament. My grades have become extremely important to me as I focus on college, and I continue to work hard to study and keep my GPA up. In college I want to major in nursing, and I believe the high expectations and rigorous schedule at Kellenberg Memorial High School has adequately prepared me for the challenge of balancing life in college.