Every year, Gatorade honors high school student-athletes for excelling both scholastically and athletically. A few days ago, it was time to recognize the 2010 – 2011 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The recipient was Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. Kaleena was the first player from California to earn this trophy since Lisa Leslie did so 21 years ago when she took home the award in 1989 – 1990. Therefore, the best way to tell Kaleena that she was this year’s winner was to have Lisa Leslie surprise her with the news. The Hoop Doctors spoke to Lisa right after she told Kaleena the good news:
Kevin Burke: Hi Lisa. Kevin Burke from The Hoop Doctors here. How are you?
Lisa Leslie: I’m doing excellent Kevin. I’m doing better now that I finally told Kaleena the good news.
Kevin Burke: How did she take it? Was she surprised?
Lisa Leslie: She was totally surprised. It was tough because we had to keep it a secret from her and so many people knew about it except for her. It’s hard to keep anything a secret nowadays but we were able to do it. The team was out on the court and I had to hide in the locker room until they came in. When they came in and saw me, they thought I was there to give them some kind of pep speech or something. So I started asking questions about the team in general and how everyone was going. Then I started asking specific questions about the team. I said, “Who’s the best defensive player on the team?” Everyone said, “Kaleena.” Then I asked, “Who’s the best offensive player?” They said, “Kaleena.” Then I asked, “Who’s the best 3-point shooter?” They said, “Kaleena” again. So then I asked Kaleena to show me her shooting form. Then I couldn’t keep it in any longer. I told her I wasn’t there to see her shooting form. I was there to tell her that she was the 2010 – 2011 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year. They all started screaming. It was a great moment and she’s a very nice girl. Very deserving of the award based on what she’s done both academically and athletically.
Kevin Burke: I met you last year in L.A. for the Gatorade Athlete of the Year presentation where you presented the award to Chiney Ogwumike who’s at Stanford now. Do these two young ladies have any similarities?
Lisa Leslie: Definitely, they are both very humble and very sweet girls. I had the chance to cover a few of Chiney’s games this year at Stanford and she did very well. Kaleena will be headed to UConn where she’ll be coached by Geno (Auriemma) and you know he doesn’t play, so she’ll have a strong career there.
Kevin Burke: Speaking of UConn and Stanford, earlier in the year Stanford ended UConn’s record breaking winning streak at 91 games. Do you think a winning streak and dominance like that is good or bad for women’s college basketball?
Lisa Leslie: I think it’s great. It showed how hard those girls worked and really highlighted how prepared they were for every game. You knew it wouldn’t go on forever but it was great to watch while it was happening. And it got people talking about the women’s game which is always a good thing. It was great for women’s college basketball. And ironically enough, I presented the Athlete of the Year award to Maya Moore (from UConn) a few years ago too. Another very sweet girl as well.
Kevin Burke: Maya is the consensus best player on the country, as you know. How good can she be on the next level in the WNBA?
Lisa Leslie: Oh, Maya will be phenomenal. She’ll have to be aggressive because it’s a different game, but that won’t be a problem for her because she never quits. Geno won’t let her. She’ll have no problem adjusting on the next level. She’s extremely talented. Minnesota has the first pick and I’d assume they would select her which would give her the opportunity to play alongside Candice Wiggins and Renee Montgomery, so that should be a good fit for her.
Kevin Burke: It should be, considering Renee is her former teammate at UConn. So in this year’s NCAA tournament UConn, Tennessee, Stanford and Baylor are the #1 seeds. Do you think the national champion will be one of those schools?
Lisa Leslie: Oh yeah, I think it will definitely come from a #1 seed. I think those are clearly the four best teams in the country and they’re all extremely well coached.
Kevin Burke: What’s your prediction? Who’s your favorite to win it all?
Lisa Leslie: It’s tough to choose. I don’t really have a favorite because they’re all so good. But I’m a west coast girl so it would be nice to see Stanford cut down the nets. But that’s just me being more hopeful than anything.
Kevin Burke: So you’ve been retired from the game for some time now. What are you doing to keep yourself busy?
Lisa Leslie: (Laughs) That’s easy. I have a 3 year old and an 11 month old. That’s all the exercise I need. I’m always running back and forth between tennis, swimming and dance with my 3 year old so there’s never a dull moment.
Kevin Burke: I didn’t hear basketball. No pressure on them to play basketball?
Lisa Leslie: (Laughs) Oh yeah. There’s plenty of time to squeeze basketball in there eventually. They’ll definitely be playing basketball too before long but as of right now, I’m playing tennis with them 3 times a week.
Kevin Burke: You’re one of the best players in history and I know you’re retired. But if you had to lace them up this summer in a WNBA game, what would your stat line be?
Lisa Leslie: Wow, that’s a good one. I’d say 10 points, 10 rebounds, 1 block and probably 4 assists. Points and rebounds have always come easy to me so I’d like to think I could get 10 of each. But then again I haven’t picked up a ball at all since I retired so who knows.
Kevin Burke: Finally, Candace Parker today versus you in your prime. Who wins 1-on-1?
Lisa Leslie: Oh, that’s easy. Me (Laughs). That’s me all day. But seriously, Candace is an outstanding player but how am I not going to say myself?
Kevin Burke: Tough to argue with that.
Kevin Burke: Thanks for your time Lisa and best of luck to you in the future.
Lisa Leslie: Thank you, Kevin. Take care.
If you’re looking for your everyday, predictable basketball talk, then go somewhere else, because Kevin Burke of The Kevin Burke Project brings provocative, thought provoking content about basketball as only he can. Kevin also hosts The Hoop Doctors weekly podcast show, which you can subscribe to for free on iTunes. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Facebook
