Penn State Wilkes-Barre is honoring student-athletes who have worked hard both academically and athletically during their time on campus. This week's senior spotlight is Leeandra Ricks. She attended St. John's Prep in Astoria, Queens, before arriving at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Leeandra is a senior from Brooklyn, New York, who played varsity Women's Basketball for four years while pursuing her major in Business Management and Marketing.

Leeandra has played in every game during her four years at Penn State Wilkes-Barre and has been a starter and captain for the last two years. She works hard on the basketball court and in the classroom and has been awarded with Academic All-Conference all four years and USCAA National All-Academic team for two years. Leeandra performed one her best games during the quarterfinals against Brandywine her senior year. Although the team ended their season early, Leeandra contributed 14 points and 2 steals. She is an asset to Penn State Wilkes-Barre and the program will miss her.

Here are some questions that Leeandra answered in a recent interview. 

Q: Who got you into the game of basketball and when did you start playing?

A: My dad got me into the game of basketball. I have watched basketball ever since I was a little girl. My dad and I would go to Madison Square Garden and watch the Knicks play. When my dad explained the game of basketball to me, I realized that it was something I wanted to do.  I started playing basketball when I was eight years old.

Q: What made you come to Penn State Wilkes-Barre?

A: I came to Penn State Wilkes-Barre because I loved the small class sizes. I also didn't like the idea of walking so far to my classes. All the classes are close together. I also wanted to play basketball. I felt that the girls I met were nice and I wanted to be on the same team with them. I also met a few professors when I went to orientation. They were very helpful welcoming me on campus and I knew that this was the right place for me.

Q: What do you like to do when you aren't playing basketball?

A: When I'm not playing basketball, I like to hang out with my friends, stay on top of my academics, and listen to music.

Q: What is your favorite memory playing at Penn State Wilkes-Barre?

A: My favorite memory playing at Penn State Wilkes-Barre was being able to play basketball with my friends. I made memories with them that I will never forget. Another memory I loved was beating Brandywine for the first time in four years. This team was number one in our conference and they were always tough to beat; we would lose when we played against them. This was a memorable experience for me and I am glad I was a part of it, especially for my last season playing basketball.

Q: What are your plans once you graduate?

A: Once I graduate, I plan on getting my MBA in Finance at St. John's University. It has been my dream to get my masters early.