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Lorenzo Leaks |
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Son of Ms. Brenda Middlebrooks, a woman, mother, and lady of faith & Mr. John Leaks, Jr. who was a talented & gifted athlete in many sports. Lorenzo has been blessed to have four children Laila, Malachi, Simone, and Malik all whom brings him joy, inspirations, humor, and love. Lorenzo's first experience of basketball was watching the adult leagues at Hirsch Recreation Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Although he never played on any organized teams until relocating to California this was the moment when the passion, desire, and love for the game was birthed as a 2nd & 3rd grader. As a 6th grader, the family relocated to California as this was Lorenzo's first season of organized basketball at Piedmont elementary school. He knew from this point on what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Lorenzo a once talented prep star from Oakland's Bay Area once scored 50-points in a game, while recording his first dunk as well from the 5'10" 9th grader at McChesney Jr. High. His best winning milestone as a young student/athlete came on an All-Star team out of Oakland named "Green-Machine", where this team won over 50+ games without a defeat over a spring and summer season. Lorenzo earned a spot as a sophomore on BCI All-Star Team out of Oakland which had players Dell Demps (New Orleans Pelican GM), and Rex Walters (#6 ranked Nevada Wolfpack Assistant Coach) on it. In Lorenzo's first & the only year on the varsity basketball as a junior, he led Oakland High Wildcats in every statistical category to a third-place finish in a very competitive Oakland Athletic League and produced five major upsets that season. The previous year the team had finished last place, and all these awards, accolades were done as a non-starter. As a student/athlete Lorenzo maintained a 3.0 + GPA all through high school, while winning numerous awards: Oakland Tribune Prep of The Week, All O.A.L., All Eastbay, and selected to numerous all-star teams while experiencing recruiting from USC Trojan coach George Raveling, Maryland (ACC), Iowa (Big Ten), and a invite to Syracuse Basketball camp. A graduate of Merritt College, earning an A.A Degree while participating as a student/athlete on the men's basketball team. He was a 2-year starter on a team that placed 2nd place in a very tough Bay Valley Conference both seasons. Lorenzo earned numerous All-Tournament accolades: Chabot Classic, Columbia Claim Jumper, etc, Most Improved Award, 1st Team All-Conference Honors, and many basketball scholarships offer. While a student/athlete at Merritt College the 2014 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee legendary coach Nolan Richardson of Arkansas Razorbacks once said: "Lorenzo has one of the nicest mid-range pull up jump shots in the country". Post Merritt College, Lorenzo accepted a scholarship to play for legendary 2018 National Collegiate Hall of Fame inductee Dan Miles of Oregon Tech. Injuries riddled his playing career for the Oregon Tech "Hustlin Owls". Lorenzo earned a bachelors degree from Southern Oregon University in Business: Administration, Marketing, and Management. Staying rooted in the game of basketball Lorenzo begin expanding on skills development training while working in the Property Management industry & starting his own 24 Spirit Athletics Basketball Academy. Immediately student/athletes were awarded scholarships from the leadership, management, training, and career development of Lorenzo. His most proud moments of the academy rest with the number of college graduates the academy produced. One other proud moment from the Academy as well as the 2009 interview with Dr. James Naismith's grandson Ian at the Final-four. It was an honor & privilege to spend quality time listening to many insights that could only come from Dr.James Naismith's family. In 2013 as the Salem Sabres won their 1st ABA Pacific Northwest Championship, Lorenzo made significant contributions on that ball club delivering a multitude of the task as assistant coach & player development specialist. In 2016 & 2017 Lorenzo received the honor & privilege of gaining hands-on experience and mentoring from working directly with USA Basketball Development Coach Don Showalter courtesy of Elite 24 Basketball (Greg Dunden) while volunteering as an AAU coach. Showalter has won 10-straight coach of the year awards, and has a 62-0 record. Working with him was confirmation of many of the visions I have of teamwork. Elite 24 is currently now Nike Team Northwest. In 2017 Lorenzo earned a Digital Video Editing-Synergy Certification from SMWW. Also that year he was invited as player skills development trainer to participate in NBA Pre-Draft Workout sessions, one of the best players during this session was Bam Adabayo (Kentucky) who was selected 14th in the 2017 NBA Draft by Miami Heat. Lorenzo would also begin his global scouting career that same year for International markets, Fiba hoops, Pac-12, WCC, Big Sky Conferences, and has also scouted #1 team in the nation in 2018. Lorenzo was invited to NBA Summer League as a player skills development trainer, and to the 2018 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement, where he was reunited with the first college basketball coach to ever recruit him from Oakland High School, none other than 2015 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame legendary USC Coach George Raveling. Lorenzo seeks to continue growing, evolving with the game of basketball, sports business industry, and research & development teams, while remaining optimistic to making contributions to an NCAA & NBA Champion as a: Scout, Trainer, Video Coordinator, Consultant, Coach, GM, and/or Basketball training product inventor. |
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