Since he first held a basketball, Jalen Leach knew he wanted to play the game. So, from a very early age, the New York native has nurtured his skills on the court, starting a journey that has brought him to Fairfield University as a freshman on the men's basketball team.

              "I started playing basketball since I was three years old," Leach said. "Basketball has always been something that I loved. I love the joy you get from playing basketball and the bonds you make along the way."

              Those bonds have brought Leach that throughout the Northeast as a student-athlete at Bergen Catholic High School as well as Tilton School in New Hampshire. And those bonds sent him up and down the East Coast as a member of the NY Lightning in the Nike Elite Basketball League (EYBL) including a championship run at the Peach Jam Invitational in South Carolina.

               At Bergen Catholic, Leach helped the team capture a county championship before he made his way to the Tilton School. It was at the latter school where he started to come into his own, spending two years preparing for the next step in his academic and athletic career.

              "The transition from Bergen to Tilton was definitely difficult," Leach said. "Leaving my home in New York and leaving all my friends was hard but Tilton was a great experience. I loved my time at Tilton. It helped prepare me for college socially, academically, and athletically."

              Those years allowed him to bring his game along at a comfortable pace, affording him the chance to improve and mature as a player. The time treated him well as Leach excelled for Tilton and earned the team's most valuable player in each of his two seasons with the program. In his first season, Leach averaged 19.4 points, four assists, and five rebounds per game. In his final campaign, Leach garnered 24 points, five assists, and seven rebounds per outing. He earned New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) AA first team honors both years he was at Tilton.

              "I got stronger and my game improved tremendously," Leach said. "The level of basketball was so much different since there was high-level Division I competition every game at Tilton unlike Bergen where I would occasionally play Division I talent. I had a bigger role at Tilton so that was definitely an adjustment that took some getting used to it."

              The transition from Bergen Catholic to Tilton also set Leach up for making the move from Tilton to college basketball. The guard has seen the difference in play in the college game but his successful jump from high school to prep basketball only sets him up for a similar experience this year.

              "The transition (to college) has been going well," Leach said. "Being at a high-level prep school gave me a good feel of how college basketball was going to be like. The biggest difference I have seen between the prep game and the college game has been the physicality, athleticism, and speed. College players also have a lot more endurance than in the prep game. I have held my own pretty well so far and I know I will be getting better in the future."

              He has already been making his mark with the Stags, earning the attention of both his coaches and teammates. What makes Leach stand out is his ability to turn his skills into results that not only help him excel but also help his teammates achieve success as well.

              "Before coming to Fairfield, a lot of people said that I play effortlessly while I'm on the court," Leach said. "I'm a good shooter, have good ball handling skills and I play defense. I am not afraid to attack the basket. And I always love to get my teammates involved by helping create shots for them. But I feel the strongest aspect of my game is my IQ. I have a really good feel for the game. I can help the team this year by making shots, making an impact on the defensive end, getting rebounds and steals and most importantly make the right play."

              His desire to do the right thing on the court comes from the three people who he admires and who have been his inspiration whenever he picks up a basketball.

              "The biggest influence on my life on the court was Kobe Bryant," Leach said. "I loved his tenacity, work ethic, and passion the court. I hope to one day come close to his approach to playing basketball. My biggest influence off the court has been my parents. My mother played basketball at Wesleyan University and my father and the rest of my family have a huge passion for basketball. My parents have pushed me and wanted me to be successful by becoming a hard worker. No matter how down I've gotten on myself, they have always supported me and never let me give up."

              His work ethic and play on the court garnered the attention of several schools over the last year or so. But in the end, it was Fairfield University Head Coach Jay Young who made the biggest impression on him.

              "I had offers from Brown, Boston University, Robert Morris, a couple of MAAC schools and some high major schools," Leach said. "I decided to come to Fairfield because I had a really good relationship with the coaching staff and some of the players. I liked Coach Young a lot especially his vision as a coach."

              It hasn't taken long for Coach Young to see just how Leach can contribute and make an impact on the team.

              "Jalen has been a great addition to our program," Young said. "It is obvious he has been well coached.  He is a gifted offensive player that also has a good feel for passing so he makes his teammates better.  More importantly, he is coachable and wants to learn."

              Since his arrival, his assessment of the coaching staff has been spot on as he credits the group for his transition to the Fairfield campus, especially in these unusual times.

              "The coaches and my teammates have helped me a lot during my transition," Leach said. "Whenever I have had any questions, they have answered them and made me feel comfortable. My teammates and coaches support me and that's all I could ask for."

              In return for their support, Leach has set some goals that he hopes will repay their confidence in him. His goals are ones that the entire Fairfield University basketball family wants.

              "My goal for this season is to win a lot of games," Leach said. "I think that Fairfield basketball fans should be really excited about this season. Personally, I want to show people that I am a high-level player who can make a huge impact. Our team has been doing a great job of staying positive during these unusual circumstances. The players have been working hard on the court and making smart decisions off the court."

              Smart decisions and working hard have brought so much success to Jalen Leach over the years and are traits that he began learning at very young age.