Troy Leaf, Foothills Christian
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
For a high school player to commit in his freshman season is usually risky. Case in point is guard Troy Leaf, one of the top players in the San Diego CIF Section the last three years.
With one season remaining in his basketball career at Foothills Christian High of El Cajon, Leaf’s college future has already taken a turn. A 6-foot-3 senior guard who made a verbal commitment to San Diego State after his freshman year, Leaf de-committed on Aug. 19. Some might consider that a gutsy maneuver when scholarships are a little bit on the scarce side.
“I didn’t feel like it was situation I could fit into,” Leaf said.
His father, Brad Leaf, who is beginning his fourth year as head basketball coach at Foothills Christian, agrees.
“We started to get a little bit uncomfortable because they kept recruiting guards. By my count they recruited seven more guards after Troy committed,” said coach Leaf. “They made no guarantees, so we had to change our course.”
Although word is just beginning to spread, the interest in Leaf is growing by the day. Stanford, Washington State, Gonzaga, Nevada, Portland are just a few of the schools that are attempting to woo the Knights’ premier sharpshooter.
Leaf has averaged 25.5 points per game during his first three years at Foothills Christian. He has shot better than 49 percent from the field, 78 percent from the free throw line and nailed 203 three-pointers.
“I’m just out there to see what happens,” he said.
Leaf has scored 1,792 points in his career to date and is all but guaranteed cracking the all-time scoring annals in the San Diego Section.
Although he did not say so, it would appear that Stanford is Leaf’s first choice with Washington State a close second.
“Obviously college is really important to me,” Leaf said. “And what conference I play in is probably equally important.”
For his size Leaf’s numbers are remarkable. He is averaging 7.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.9 steals and 1.6 blocks during his career.
“What I want is to play at a school that needs me,” Leaf said. “That’s what is really important.”
