Mount St. Mary’s senior Dakota Leffew recently chatted with PressBox about his favorite memory from his time at the Mount so far, why he wants to become a coach and more. The 6-foot-5, 185-pound guard averaged 13.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game for the Mountaineers in 2022-23. He shot 38 percent from 3-point range. Leffew is a native of Hampton, Ga., and graduate of Jonesboro High School.
Leffew’s uncle, Tshombe High, played college hoops at Miami (Fla.) and Chattanooga in the ’90s.
PressBox: How did you become interested in basketball?
Dakota Leffew: I became interested in basketball back when I was young by just growing up watching my uncle play and my granddad play, just being around basketball. I feel like I [fell] in love with it.
PB: How did your uncle influence your game growing up?
DL: He was a big influence on my game, just coming to my practices when I was younger, just teaching me the game more and more. He liked to tweak my game at a young age, try to get me better.
PB: Why did you choose to go to Mount St. Mary’s?
DL: I feel like it was very family-oriented when I came on my visit. They treated me well when I was here.
PB: What’s your favorite memory from your time at the Mount so far?
DL: Winning the NEC when I was a freshman [in 2020-21]. My season had ended early due to my broken hand. Just being along for the journey, being with the team, seeing the ups and downs and how we came together, it was a big deal, a big time for us that year.
PB: You’ve played more and become more productive every season at the Mount. What has been the key in developing as a player?
DL: Just being sponge, coming in every day, just continuing to get better, learning from the coaches, watching film. I feel like it’s helped me every year as I continue to get better and better.
PB: You shot about 28 percent from 3-point range in 2021-22 and 38 percent in 2022-23. How did you improve from deep?
DL: Just staying in the gym daily, getting more consistent and having confidence. I feel like my confidence was big for me, too, last year.
PB: The Mount moved to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference last year. What kind of adjustment was that?
DL: It was a more physical conference. Of course, the competition level was better, too.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about the Mount?
DL: I like how everyone is together here, more like family here. That’s my biggest thing about the Mount that I like.
PB: Who’s your best friend on the team and what’s a story that underscores your friendship?
DL: Best friend on the team would be František Barton. We both came in as freshmen. He was my freshman roommate. I feel like we have been close ever since.
PB: Who did you look up to early in your college career?
DL: Damian Chong Qui. When he was a junior here, I was a freshman. I really looked up to his game and how he contributed to our team. He led us my freshman year.
PB: What advice would you give to younger players?
DL: To never give up and to chase your dream, because anything’s possible.
PB: What are your goals for after basketball, whenever it ends?
DL: I would like to be a coach, go into coaching.
PB: What coaches have been particularly influential to you?
DL: The way [Mount St. Mary’s head coach Dan Engelstad] runs stuff here and the way [associate head coach Will Holland] helps us out, I like the way they do stuff. I would like to be a coach like them one day.