By Sam Settar

In 2024, the Cougars varsity boys basketball team posted a 10-13 season under first-year head coach and Upper School history teacher Nick Leonardelli, and they are looking to improve their record this year. Collegiate lost four of five starters from last year’s roster and only has four players returning to the team this year. Coming back to the team are Ben Hager (‘27), Jayden Smith (‘27), Henry Brost (‘26), and Danny Mooney (‘28). Brost and Mooney serve as this year’s captains.

As a first year player on the team and new to Collegiate, I am excited about the season and what I can do to contribute to the team. During practices, the team plays well together, always making an extra pass and bringing a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm. Everyone is extremely encouraging and puts the team’s success above their own.

Each practice, assistant coach Farley MacDonald, a Middle School science teacher, keeps track of rebounds during drills and scrimmaging. It makes each of us better and makes us compete more during practice. Coach Leonardelli always has a plan for practice; whether it’s in the film room or on the court, he makes the time we have together productive.  

With the new changes to the team, there are some question marks and shoes to fill from last year. Mooney said, “New leaders and new people need to step up for this season.” Brost added that “we need other Sophomores and Juniors to become leaders, not just the captains.” With nine underclassmen on the team, the Cougars are going to need some younger voices to lead throughout the season. 

Mooney stated, “We are going to be a tough team that is not going to back down to anyone.” One of the team’s goals this year is to be fearless when playing. The team breaks down every huddle with “Fearless on three!” No matter how much bigger another team is, we will not play scared. “We have a really good group of guys who we are close with,” Mooney said. Having a tight-knit group on and off the court is usually a blueprint for success. Chason Beggerow (‘28) said, “I am looking forward to spending time with my teammates and being part of the community it brings.”   

Coming off a dominating 61-9 win to start the season over Grove Christian School, the Cougars faced a tough Potomac School team with multiple Division I commits on December 5 in McLean, Virginia, and lost 66-50. But we bounced back with a win the next day over Trinity Christian from Fairfax, 63-46. Collegiate suffered a devastating two-point loss to Douglas Freeman High School on December 10, 50-52, and has a challenging schedule this coming semester. 

On the team, Mooney and Phil Martelli (‘28) both have dads that coach college basketball teams in Virginia. Mooney’s dad Chris Mooney is in his 21st year of coaching mens basketball the University of Richmond. He is the winningest coach in Richmond basketball history. Martelli’s dad, Phil Martelli, Jr., is in his first year as head coach of VCU’s mens basketball team. He was the head coach at Bryant University for two seasons before getting the head coaching job for the Rams. Martelli, Jr., also had a coaching stint in the G League with the Delaware 87ers (now the Delaware Blue Coats), the affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers.

For me, a significant difference transferring from Godwin High School to Collegiate is that our VISAA and LIS games have a thirty-second shot clock, whereas in public school games there was no shot clock at all. This has taken some time to get used to but is a new dynamic I have adjusted to quickly. My experiences being on the varsity basketball teams at Godwin and now Collegiate have some similarities but also some differences. Practices were run differently at Godwin, Collegiate runs different plays that I needed to learn, and I have met new teammates here at Collegiate. I am looking forward to building new relationships this season and winning some more games.