Many U of D Jesuit High School Athletes are moving on with their athletic careers and making the long-awaited decision of where they are going to play their sport in college. The class of 2025 specifically has a numerous number of seniors who plan to continue their athletic careers, and many have made this decision already. In a variety of different sports ranging from football, basketball, lacrosse, golf, baseball, and swimming. In addition, a lot of our own students are being recruited to top colleges, reflecting the outstanding academic and athletic preparation at U of D Jesuit.
One of the standout athletes from the class of 2025 is Zachary Green, a football player at The High who has put in a lot of hard work and dedication into his sport, earning him a prestigious spot at the next level, committing to play football for West Point Academy (Army). In an interview, Zach was asked what sets him apart from other athletes that made colleges want to recruit him, responding, “dedication to the game, not all the work that you showed is gonna be publicized, it’s the work that you don’t show is what really shows at the end of the day.” Zach shows how his excellence extends beyond the football field, putting in the work on his own time, and balancing his academics with his athletics. West Point is one of the most prestigious schools in the world, and Zach embodies what it takes to get to that point. Being such a role model for other student athletes at the High, he lives out the Jesuit motto of being a “Man for Others,” and his advice to aspiring athletes is too “be open to coaching, be teachable be coachable, be able to listen, and just be able to absorb knowledge that’s all around you, because you’re not gonna know it all.” Green explains that being able to be taught knowledge from coaches and your peers is one of the number one trait an athlete needs to be able to do. Looking forward to joining West Point, Zach is ready to take on the next chapter, not only as a student-athlete but also as a future leader. He credits The High’s rigorous environment and the support of his coaches and teammates for helping him develop the mindset needed for success at the collegiate level and beyond. As he prepares to bring his talents to Army, he hopes to inspire future Cubs to pursue their goals with the same passion and resilience.
Another exceptional athlete in the class of 2025 at the High is Leroy Blyden Jr., one of our star basketball players and overall, a very kind soul. Leroy has chosen to take his talents to the University of Toledo. When asked why he chose Toledo over all his other options, he said “the basketball program, what they had support in the program, coaches’ connection, how they acted, and how the team acted, and then the campus, I would say, in that order.” Moreover, Leroy isn’t the first student from U of D Jesuit to bring his talents to Toledo—former Cubs basketball star Sonny Wilson also plays there, continuing the school’s legacy of athletic excellence in the collegiate level.
Leroy values the virtues of kindness and humility, always helping his peers get better at basketball, and he is known for uplifting his teammates both on and off the court. He is also an example of what a U of D Jesuit student should be like, being an excellent student as well as an athlete. When asked how he balances school and academics, college-level basketball.
Leroy says too “treat it as the same, as much work as you put into your sport you gotta put into school, schoolwork.” His humility and dedication to his team are qualities that will no doubt serve him well as he transitions to Leroy is eager to contribute to Toledo’s program while also growing as a player and a person. He has great support behind him, and in an interview said what motivated him to pursue his sport was “my family, my mom and dad mainly, my brother, just my family man.” Leroy’s hard-working attitude and again, dedication to the sport of basketball are what have got him to where he is today, pursuing his academic and athletic career at a great program.
As both talented and distinguished athletes embark on their academic and athletic journeys, they carry with them the core values they have learned at the High. Zachary Green and Leroy Blyden Jr. are prime examples of what it means to be a student-athlete, prioritizing leadership, humility, and hard work overall. Their accomplishments are a testament to the strength of the High’s programs, and their journey serves as an example for future Cubs.
Not only have Zach and Leroy made this commitment, but many others in the class of 2025 have as well for numerous sports like football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, golf, and swim. See the list of all of them below:
Commits:
Zachary Green – West Point Academy (Football)
Leroy Blyden Jr. – University of Toledo (Basketball)
Evan Tack – Boston College (Swim)
Patrick Mackillop – Miami University (Ohio) (Swim)
Kyle Spondike – Hope College (Lacrosse)
Aidan Treharne – Wayne State University (Golf)
Jacob Bellinger – Saginaw Valley State University (Football)
Monir Alkammoun – Cuesta College (Baseball)
