Historic Long Island basketball feats
How a Long Island family made their mark on basketball history.
new york – You could say basketball is in the Leary family’s DNA. Ryan Leary is the latest player to make his mark.
The Carle Place High School senior recently achieved his 1,000th career point, following in the footsteps of his three older sisters and his mother, a former 1,000-point scorer herself.
family traditions
What we know:
Ryan Leary has been a standout athlete since joining the Carle Place varsity basketball team as an eighth grader. Currently a team captain, he reached the impressive milestone of 1,000 points during his junior year.
“I saw all three sisters do it,” Ryan said. “When this year came around, I thought I could do it too.”
Ryan’s three sisters, Erin, Amanda, and Kaitlyn, all played college basketball, continuing the tradition started by their mother, Karyn Leary. Karin reached the 1,000 mark in 1989 and had a huge impact on the athletic success of her children.
Back story:
The Leary family’s accomplishments in sports are deeply rooted in their upbringing. Karin and her husband Patrick are both physical education teachers and encouraged their children to pursue their passions without pressure.
“From the time they were born, as soon as they were admitted to the hospital, they had basketball and soccer rattles,” Karin said.
Patrick, who is heavily involved in coaching, joked that he was the only one in his family not to score 1,000 points. “They’re much better athletes than I am,” he admitted.
In terms of numbers:
- Ryan reached 1,000 points faster than any of his siblings.
- Carl Place’s record is just over 1,450 points, but Ryan is on track to surpass that.
- Karl Place Athletic Director Justin Brock said most high school players don’t even reach 500 points in their careers.
What’s next:
With another year of high school basketball on the horizon, Ryan wants to break records and put his name on the walls of Carle Place’s gymnasium. But his family is already proud of what he has accomplished.
“This ending couldn’t be written in the book. It’s perfect. It’s so cool,” Karin said.
