Fred Cleveland, DaChaun Anderson, Miles Thomas and Kevin Drumgoole walked off with individual awards as the Leo basketball program saluted its 24-9 season with a banquet at the Red Palm restaurant on Tuesday, April 9.
Cleveland, Leo’s two-time All-State point guard, and Anderson, who joined him in achieving All-State recognition this season, shared the team’s MVP award. Thomas repeated as winner of the Hustle Award, which goes to the player who delights in doing the little things and commits to making his teammates better. Drumgoole was cited as Most Improved Player.
Coach Jamal Thompson thanked the Lions for buying into his approach after he took over four games into the season. The Lions went on to finish third in the Catholic League White Division and won regional and sectional titles in Class 2-A before losing to eventual state champion Orr in the Joliet Supersectional.
At the sophomore level, Adarius West was team MVP and Rich’ard Coleman was Most Improved. Cy’ree Johnson (MVP) and Devin Richardson (Most Improved) were the freshman honorees.
Cleveland has accepted a scholarship to North Carolina A&T, and Thomas will play ball at Elmhurst College. Anderson is weighing offers from several junior colleges. Drumgoole, a junior, is expected to be a team leader for the Lions next season.