The temperature in the Iola High gym ran high as Cal Leonard sliced and diced his way through the lane on Tuesday night. While Leonard could have settled for the simple left-handed finish, he wanted more.
The senior guard weaved through two defenders and finished with an up-and-under reverse layup that left the Mustang faithful in oohs and aahs. As Leonard hustled back on defense, he managed only a soft smile.
?If you are not having fun, then there is no point in being out there,? Leonard said. ?You have to have fun if you are on the court. It makes the game so much more enjoyable. It gets the crowd into it. And if you are getting the crowd into it, the experience is more special.?
Leonard was averaging 16.8 points per game before his 22-point performance against the Panthers on Tuesday. Mustang head coach Luke Bycroft commends Leonard for his scoring success, but it’s Leonard?s cool head that Bycroft admires most.
?Cal is kind of like the motor of what we try to do offensively,? Bycroft said. ?He is keeping his head so much better this season. Sometimes in the past, he?d get frustrated if he didn?t get shots, or didn?t convert difficult shots. So far this year, he is letting the game come to him. He is playing with so much confidence and maturity, which makes a big difference for us.?
Even when Leonard isn?t lighting up the scoreboard, he finds a way to stay involved. In years prior, he may have taken a back seat when things weren?t going his way. But heading into this season, Leonard made it his priority to stay engaged even when shots are not falling his way.
?My dad and I have been talking forever about me needing to expand my game more than just being a shooter,? Leonard said. ?This year I have been driving to the hole, looking for open looks, and going and getting more rebounds. Finding open guys is going to help us win games, and I?m going to do whatever helps to win games.?
Although the hardwood may be Leonard?s home for the winter, he will soon find himself on the baseball diamond for one final ride. The senior has already settled his future, signing to continue his baseball career at Washburn University.
?Ever since I was little, I wanted to play college baseball. So it is really a dream come true,? Leonard said.
Leonard said initially he wasn?t getting the looks from college scouts as he might have hoped. After attending a camp in Chanute with college scouts, he was courted by Washburn head coach Harley Douglas, whose roots lie in Yates Center. The pair formed a bond, and Leonard felt it was the right place to call his home for the next four years.
?He texted me, called me, and asked if I would like to come on a visit,? Leonard said. ?When I got there, they had everything that I was looking for in a college. They offered me a scholarship, and I knew it was the right place for me after I saw the school and got home and talked with my parents.?
High school baseball has been present in Iola since 2005. Iola High?s head baseball coach, Mark Percy, highlights only a select few Mustangs have been able to reach the collegiate level. Percy points out that the recruiting game has changed, and that being seen by college coaches on gameday is a rarity.
Nowadays, athletes seeking next-level opportunities have to venture out to be seen by coaches at various camps around the country. Percy has no doubt that Leonard?s prowess on the field, mound, and batters box would land him a special opportunity.
?He is smooth in the field, and knows how to act like a baseball player. He wears his uniform right, has his cap on, and is all business out there. He is smooth,? Percy said. ?When it comes to pitching, he short-arms his pitch a little bit, but it gets on you in a hurry.?
