David DiLeo reaches 1,000 career points, credits basketball upbringing


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Junior forward David Dileo puts up a free throw on Dec. 8 at McGuirk Arena.

David DiLeo isn't one to talk about himself. 

Generally, the junior forward has been a player to lead by his actions and 3-point shot since he arrived at Central Michigan. Ask him a question about how he played and the first thing he will do is give credit to his teammates.

His teammates, however, will be the first to make sure the extra time DiLeo puts in the gym before and after practice doesn't go unnoticed. 

"Dave deserved something like this, man," said senior guard Shawn Roundtree. "He's out here putting up shots whenever he gets the chance and not everyone has the drive to do that.

"He makes us all a lot better and he does so by his actions."

DiLeo is the 33rd Chippewa to hit the 1,000-point marker in men's basketball program history. DiLeo said without his basketball upbringing, it never would have been possible.

David's mother Kay DiLeo worked at Iowa City West High as a tennis and basketball coach.

The high school itself is just a couple blocks down from David's house in Iowa City where graduated from in 2015. Whenever the gym was open, he, his mother and father Frank DiLeo would go with him and watch him put up shots for hours. 

This was the beginning of an attitude that DiLeo would never lose.

Junior forward David DiLeo walks on the court with junior guard Kevin McKay on Jan. 29 in McGuirk Arena.

"They taught me that nothing is given to you," DiLeo said. "You have to work to get what you want, they would run those extra rebounding and conditioning drills with me in that gym whenever I needed it.

"It feels good to get this (1,000 points) recognition because it makes my parents proud and shows this hard work is paying off."

Of course, the effort and work David brings every day didn't come as a surprise to CMU head coach Keno Davis.

Keno's father Tom Davis coached Frank at Lafayette College from 1972-75. Keno attended Iowa City West High and said Frank played for the same coach as him in high school. Needless to say Keno has been following David's basketball career for a long time.

"This (effort) isn't anything we taught him, it's something that he came with," Keno said of David. "He loves to shoot and wants to become a great shooter. He's got the confidence you need to be a great in that area and shows it every game."

Shooting from beyond the arc has been the area David has specialized in since arriving in Mount Pleasant and it wasn't unexpected. 

In high school he shot 45 percent from downtown and in college has held it to a 37 percent clip he is only looking to improve. He's taken 587 3-point shots in just under three years with CMU and he wants to see more go through.

"I've been doing everything I can to get better since I arrived on campus," DiLeo said. "It feels good to know everything is paying off, but I just want to move forward and keep playing for my team goals."

Keno said in his career like any deep threat, David has went through shooting droughts.

The difference with David is he doesn't shy away it if the ball isn't dropping. Just like he doesn't stop coming in to the gym early and staying late when things aren't going his way.

"If you want to be a great shooter you have to believe your next shot is going in," Keno said. "David always thinks his next one is."

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