AMIRAH LEONARD TO BE INDUCTED INTO CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME
Amirah Leonard '97, the leading scorer in Ventura College women's basketball history, will be inducted into the California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association (CCCWBCA) Hall of Fame in conjunction with 2011 State Tournament activities in Ventura. Leonard will be formally inducted at the Banquet of Champions, Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel. Dinner reservations can be made by emailing Ashley Alderton, Assistant Coach, Santa Barbara City College, at aalderton@gmail.com by noon on Monday, March 7. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. The cost is $25, payable at the door.
Amirah Leonard came to Ventura College from Crescenta Valley High School already boasting a record-setting pedigree in basketball. She was a two-time Pacific League MVP and All-CIF honoree, and made a state record 107 3-point field goals her senior season. Her 222 career triples also set a state record. It was with these high expectations that she joined a sophomore laden Pirate squad fresh off of a perfect 35-0 record and the programs first state championship under Coach Ned Mircetic.
Amirah was the only freshman starter on the 1996-97 team that entered the season as the favorite to repeat as state champions. Instead of deferring to her more experienced teammates, she led them. Amirah started all 37 games, leading the team to a 36-1 record. She was tops on the squad in scoring with 15.8 points per game, and she excelled on the defensive end of the floor with a team-high 3.6 steals per contest. She earned 1st Team All-WSC and 1st Team All-State Honors. In the State Championship game against Canyons, Amirah connected for 19 points in earning State Tournament MVP honors, leading the Pirates to the second of their back -to-back state titles.
Amirah’s sophomore season was another one for the record books. She led the Pirates to a 36-2 record, setting single-season school records in leading the team in points scored (812), field goals made (299), field goals attempted (690), 3-point field goals made (84), and 3-point field goals attempted (257). Additionally, she had 171 steals (3rd all-time) and 189 assists (4th all-time). She was named WSC MVP, State Co-Player of the Year, and to the All-State Tournament Team. Unfortunately, the grind of the season and injuries took their toll on the team, as Ventura College fell to Sierra College in the state finals. Sierra was the only team to defeat Ventura that season.
For her career, Amirah’s teams were a combined 72-3, with two WSC championships, a state championship, and a state runner-up finish. She played in all 75 games (2nd at Ventura College all-time in games played), and finished her career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,397 points. She holds school records for both field goals made (529) and attempted (1,174), and also appears in the school record books in 3-pointers made (147, 2nd), 3-pointers attempted (438, 2nd), steals (303, 2nd), steals average (4.0, 2nd), scoring average (18.6, 4th), and assists (310, 6th).
Following her graduation from Ventura College, Amirah accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Clemson University in South Carolina. She helped lead the Tigers to the ACC Championship and NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 1999. She had a career high of 25 points against Old Dominion her senior season when she shot 40% from the field, 43% from behind the 3-point line, and hit 89% from the free throw line.
Amirah spent the 2001-02 season playing professionally in Virum, Denmark, averaging 21.7 points, 4.7 steals, and 4.2 assists per game. She was named the team MVP that season.
Amirah graduated in 2000 from Clemson University with a B.A. in speech and communication. She has appeared on television on NBC’s Fear Factor and currently works as a personal fitness trainer with Extreme Boot Camp in La Canada-Flintridge.
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