Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball coach Steve Becker announced the signing of 15-year-old Leonard Evans to a National Letter of Intent on December 10, 2016.
Evans was paired with the CSUDH men's basketball team through Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization that helps "improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team."
An Inglewood native, Evans was diagnosed with leukemia in December of 2012. He finished chemotherapy treatment in March 2016 and has lost 30 pounds just this year. Additionally, he is affected by osteoporosis, and sees a gastrointestinal specialist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
After Evans signed his NLI, Becker presented his newest signee with a Toro jersey, complete with his name on the back. Evans then took questions from the audience, revealing that senior point guard Vincent Golson is the one person in the world he would choose to have dinner with, that he would make sure the entire team stuck to their academics and graduated, and that the entire Toro team was his favorite when asked to pick one player.
Evans then took his official headshot for the Toros 2016-17 roster.
More About Leonard
Permanent Hometown: Lakewood
Career Aspiration: To be a basketball player
Mother's Name: Kieanitria
Activities/Hobbies: Video games, basketball, draw
Favorite Sports Team: Toros
Favorite Athlete(s): Kevin Durant and Leonard Kawahi
The Person You Admire Most: His Mom
Person You Would LIke to Meet: Sam Boure
Favorite Television Show: Pitch
Favorite Food/Drink: Chicken Wings and Arizona Tea
Favorite Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Music Genre/Band: Rap/Drake
Favorite Vacation Spot: Cleveland, Ohio
ABOUT TEAM IMPACT
Team IMPACT is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Team IMPACT children are drafted on to college athletic teams, local to where they live and, in effect, become official members of the team from Draft Day through to Graduation. At Team IMPACT, they envision a future where the lives of children facing the hardships associated with adverse issues and events will have access to collegiate team-based support in order to significantly enhance their quality of life in a number of ways, including socially, psychologically, physically and academically.
Team IMPACT also strives to provide collegiate teams with increased levels of awareness, sympathy and support for the medial and disease communities. Established in 2011, Team IMPACT has already matched over 950 children with collegiate teams at over 450 institutions in 45 states, improving the quality of life of hundreds of courageous children and touching the lives of over 25,000 student athletes.
(June 2018)
