Two former All-CNY women’s basketball standouts will have new homes when the season begins next winter.
Rome Free Academy graduate Amya McLeod is moving closer to home with her recent engagement to Youngstown State’s Le Moyne and Auburn graduate Leah Middleton is leaving Le Moyne to head to Binghamton.
McLeod announced that he would enter the transfer portal on his X account at the end of March. Last week he announced his commitment to play for the Dolphins next season.
“I made several visits from Florida to Buffalo and Le Moyne was the last one I made,” McLeod said. “After talking to (Le Moyne staff), looking around campus and talking to my mom, I felt like it would be nice to be closer to home.”
McLeod had to miss his freshman year at Youngstown State after suffering a hip injury that required surgery.
His injury, coupled with the resignation of coach John Barnes and the fact that Youngstown State was about five and a half hours from his hometown of Rome, McLeod felt the move to Le Moyne was appropriate.
“I like doing exercises and exercises with the girls (in Rome). So being only 45 minutes from home, I feel like it’s perfect,” McLeod said. “I can come home whenever I can and help my high school coach with whatever he needs. …Being closer to my family because last year was a difficult year.”
While dealing with an injury is always difficult, a season-ending injury in your first year away from home is even more difficult. While this may have been a setback for many, McLeod used it as a learning experience.
“Honestly, I learned a lot about myself, mentally and physically,” McLeod said. “I had to learn to overcome a lot of things on my own because coming out of high school at 18, you usually depend on your parents for everything. So, since my mom was five and a half hours away, I couldn’t rely on her for everything. I had to learn to grow on my own a little bit and I had to start doing things on my own, going to doctor’s appointments, something I had never done on my own. Honestly, that was a big change.”
Prior to her injury, McLeod was a member of the All-CNY large school girls basketball team multiple times and scored over 1,000 points in her high school career. Those accolades made McLeod a popular player in the area and since she announced her return to Central New York, her fans have already expressed their excitement.
“As soon as I committed, that day my phone started ringing asking for season passes and everything,” McLeod said. “I think everyone is very excited. Everyone was excited for me to leave, but I think everyone is more excited for me to come home so they can watch me play. They don’t have to make such a long trip. Most of them can come to home games.”
McLeod joins a Le Moyne team that finished 18-15 (14-2 in the NEC) last season, was second in the Northeast Conference and reached the conference championship game.
Middleton would have been McLeod’s teammate with the Dolphins; instead, she will suit up for Binghamton next season, according to a statement from the school.
2023 All-CNY Large School Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year after averaging 27.9 points per game during her senior season at Auburn. She finished her high school career with 1,237 points in four seasons.
Middleton appeared in all 32 of Le Moyne’s games as a freshman and averaged 2.8 points per game.
“I am delighted that Leah has decided to continue her college career at Binghamton,” former Le Moyne and current Binghamton coach Mary Grimes said in a news release. “Leah finished his high school career very well and only scratched the surface his freshman year in college. Leah’s work ethic is off the charts and her desire to improve will be a great addition to the team and culture.”
Middleton joins a Bearcats team that went 14-17 (8-8) and tied for fourth place in the America East Conference last season.
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