Athlete of the Week

Chris Leanza, SY '03 Basketball point guard Hometown: Parma, OH. Height: 6'0" Weight: 180 lbs Major: Economics Plans after Yale: "Hopefully more basketball, otherwise something in business." Favorite band: Led Zeppelin

Although both Yale and Princeton boast strong athletic programs, Princeton basketball is known for its Ivy dominance. But the Tigers are also infamous for their backdoor plays and constant use of screens. Leanza, this week's Ivy League Rookie of the Week, decided he would not be well suited to such an offense, since he prefers to penetrate and make plays. After some hard thinking, Leanza chose Yale.

From Yale's perspective, it's a good thing he did so. On Sat., Feb. 5, after losing by a substantial margin to Pennsylvania a day earlier, Yale rebounded to beat Princeton behind the strong play of Leanza. Not only did he score a team-high 13 points to go along with five rebounds and six assists, but he also made key three-pointers at important junctures in the game. As Leanza is well aware, he chose a good time to have one of his best games of the season. "After getting frustrated by Penn the night before, we knew we had to bounce back against Princeton," Leanza said.

Although the Princeton win was exciting, Leanza said that what he has liked best about the season thus far are his teammates and the coaching staff. The two-time Ivy Rookie of the Week said, "I love the guys on the team. They are like family." Leanza added that he enjoys playing for first-year coach James Jones, who Leanza described as someone who "hates to lose, and has a real love for the game." Leanza credits Jones for much of the team's improvement this year.

Leanza is certainly no stranger to basketball success. As a seventh grader, top basketball prep schools in the Cleveland area courted his talent. In the end he chose to play ball at Cleveland Benedictine.

While at Benedictine, before crowds of 13,000, he helped his team win state championships in both his sophomore and junior seasons. In Leanza's senior year, the team fell just short, and was eliminated in the semifinals. When asked if he was the star on those championship teams, the unassuming Leanza offered a reluctant admission—"Well, I guess you could say that."

But Leanza is certain that coming to Yale was the right decision. He's more than pleased with his playing time—averaging 35 minutes a game is high for anyone on the team, let alone a freshman. Additionally, he is so happy with the Yale college experience that he sometimes views basketball as a "bonus."

Leanza has been more than a bonus for the Bulldogs. He has become an important part of a team that appears to be turning a corner and finally making Yalies basketball fans. And with Leanza at the point, the Elis are thinking NCAA tournament in the near future.

Photo by Julia Tiernan.

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