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Leo Anthony, holding 11 of Old Dominion University’s 13 cage records when he graduated in 1961 was the first basketball All-American to play for the University.
The six-foot guard finished his ODU basketball career in February of 1961 by scoring60 points against Lynchburg College and becoming the third highest scorer in thehistory of the State of Virginia.
Besides Little All-American honors, Leo was named to the All-Virginia team four times and voted Player of the Year in the state twice.
In the 1979-80 season Anthony’s single career scoring mark of 2,181 points was brokenby Ronnie Valentine. Anthony still owns the highest scoring average in a season at 31.0and the highest career average at 26.6. Anthony had 29 30-point games during his careerfrom 1957-61. Anthony averaged 24.1 as a freshman, 25.3 as a sophomore, 26.3 as ajunior. He scored 35 or more points in a game 12 times.
A player with unusual quick foot movement, Leo was known for his ability to get freefor his shots and execute them. He developed innovative shooting methods against double-teaming and the many box-and-one defenses.
With Anthony setting the pace, the Norfolk Division of the College of William andMary Braves (as Old Dominion was formerly known until his senior year) achieved a four-year record of 55-27.
Off-season play against such NBA greats as Jerry West andElgin Baylor showed Anthony could have been a star at anycollege level. He had turned down scholarship offers fromsuch schools as the University of New Mexico, and the Collegeof William and Mary to attend Old Dominion.
In addition to starring for four years in basketball, Anthony also started at shortstopfor four years in baseball.
After graduating from Old Dominion, Anthony began teaching and coaching in theHampton Roads area at Granby, Norfolk Academy, Maury, Princess Anne andFirst Colonial. His Princess Anne High School squad won eight District titles andhe won another two at First Colonial.
Anthony is one of a hand full of high school coaches who has won over 400 games in basketball and golf . He completed his high school basketball coaching with 411 victories. While Leo has retired from teaching and coaching basketball, he is still coaching golf at First Colonial High School, and has 458 as ofJanuary of 2004.
He was a member of the first Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame induction class in the spring of 1980.