BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Juniors Mikayla Anderson and Michael Leonardo of the Moravian University basketball teams have been named to the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Scholar-Athlete Team for the 2023-24 season.
The Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Organization is made up of the six small college schools in the Lehigh Valley including NCAA Division II schools East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and NCAA Division III schools Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, Moravian University and Muhlenberg College.
Anderson, a junior guard for the Greyhounds, has helped the Moravian women to a 5-11 record including a 4-5 slate in Landmark Conference action at the midpoint of the conference season. This winter, she has contributed 48 rebounds, 26 points, 19 steals, 17 assists and 13 blocked shots, ranking third on the squad in steals and blocked shots, and Anderson has played 275 minutes while seeing action in all 16 games with three starts. She has 54 points, 95 rebounds, 37 assists, 35 steals and 20 blocked shots in 60 career contests, and Anderson is maintaining a 3.43 GPA while majoring in health sciences/pre-occupational therapy.
"Mikayla has performed on the court and in the classroom at a high level consistently for three years with our program," commented Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk. "Mikayla represents herself, her family and Moravian Women's Basketball as a Student-Athlete with integrity, passion and maturity. She has embraced the role of student to the ultimate level and done the same with the athlete part of the equation. Congratulations to Mikayla on this honor. She has earned this recognition."
Joining Anderson on the Scholar-Athlete Team are Caroline Horst of Muhlenberg, Amelia Saunders of DeSales, Carley Adams of East Stroudsburg, Rachel Bilger of Cedar Crest and Zara Zerman of Kutztown.
Leonardo, a junior guard/forward, has been an important starter for the Greyhounds this season, helping Moravian to a 7-9 overall mark and a 3-6 slate in Landmark Conference action at the halfway point of the conference slate. He is averaging 7.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this winter, ranking second on the squad in rebounds per contest, and Leonardo tops the squad with 75 assists and 19 steals to go with 21 three-pointers and 18 blocked shots over 521 minutes in 16 starts. In his career, Leonardo has contributed 297 points, 317 rebounds, 207 assists, which ranks 12th in program history, 53 three-pointers, 47 steals and 42 blocked shots in 66 games with 21 starts. Leonardo is majoring in management while earning a 3.53 GPA.
"I am so proud of Mike for his work in the classroom," stated Head Coach Darryl Keckler. "He is a developing leader in our program, on and off the court, and that is evident in his academic achievements. It is great to see his hard work pay off."
Joining Leonardo on the Scholar-Athlete Team are Luke Gordos of Muhlenberg, Elijah Eberly of DeSales, Carson Howard of East Stroudsburg and Will Meeker of Kutztown.
The next Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13 at 11:30 a.m. at the DeSales University Center where the LVSCBO 2024 Team of the Year and the Pete Nevins Player of the Year awards will be announced.
