Senior Athlete Spotlight: Jade Leon

In the fifth grade, Jade Leon started playing basketball, merely because it seemed fun.  Just a few years later, Leon was a middle school student starting on the Varsity Girls Basketball team at Palmer Trinity. From the moment Leon stepped on Palmer Trinity’s campus, she made an immediate impact for the Falcons and has been a focal point of the team ever since.

Leon has averaged double figures in scoring every year she has been a member of the team and for her career has averaged 13 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 steals, and 3.1 assists.  In total, she has amassed over 1,200 points, 500 rebounds, and 300 steals and assists. However, in her time here, she has learned not just to become a better basketball player, but what it takes to be a leader and a captain. The Varsity Girls Basketball team had no seniors for two straight years, forcing Leon and other underclassmen to take on a leadership role at a young age and Leon thrived with the opportunity.

Leon thinks back on her time and is appreciative of all the relationships she has been able to build on and off the court, most notably with her teammates. Her favorite moment was winning the District Championship against Somerset Silver Palms in 2022. Head Varsity Girls Basketball Coach George Montes reflects back to when Leon was a soft-spoken 8th grader and notes it has been a joy to watch her blossom into an All-Dade player. “I believe she will go down as one of the best individual defenders I’ve ever coached,” Montes says. “I’ve been blessed to be a part of her journey and can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.”

Off the court, Leon keeps busy with her academics and some of her hobbies such as painting and rock climbing. She has been active in many honors societies at Palmer Trinity, such as National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta. This fall, Leon is eagerly applying to many colleges and universities in hopes of studying biomedical engineering or IT management as she considers becoming a doctor. Leon’s favorite food is steak and fries and favorite movie is Signs.

Be sure to come out and support Jade and the rest of the Varsity Girls Basketball team this season as they look to recapture the District title!

 

Go Falcons!