Men's Basketball Adopts Inspiring Young Fan for Upcoming Season

Men's Basketball Adopts Inspiring Young Fan for Upcoming Season

Leo Padilla

The USD men's basketball team and 14-year-old Leo Padilla met for the first time at the end of a practice June 30 at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. It is the first of many more meetings to come.

Padilla, from nearby Chula Vista, is a very polite boy with a great smile. At his young age he has already been through two surgeries for a brain tumor. Accompanied by his mom and 11-year-old sister, he has been adopted by the Torero basketball team through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.

Last week's initial meeting was set up by Dr. Paul C. Murphy, USD's head team physician, through his local connections with the Ronald McDonald House and Rady's Children's Hospital. Dr. Murphy also has a strong connection to the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, which is named in honor of his niece. Jaclyn Murphy went through a similar affiliation after being diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of nine. She was an adoptee of the Northwestern University women's lacrosse team in 2004, which, by no strange coincidence, won the national championship a few years later.

"Giving back is so much better than receiving; it's inspiring change in children's lives," Murphy said.

While watching the team at last week’s practice, Leo talked about his fondness for skateboarding and playing soccer. He was also a little wide-eyed while standing on the baseline and watching 6-foot-10 freshman center Frank Ryder slam-dunk a ball a few feet away in a practice drill.

Head Coach Lamont Smith and his staff and players have welcomed Padilla into their program and will have him take part in a variety of activities throughout the school year including attending some practices, home games and a few off-campus events.

"We couldn't be more excited to have this young man and his family in our basketball family," Smith said. "We look forward to this unique opportunity to give back. Paul (Murphy) has been outstanding with helping us get this going."

Friends of Jaclyn is a non-profit organization that provides support to kids fighting cancer and states their mission as "Our mission at Friends of Jaclyn is to improve the quality of life for children and their families battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers while spreading awareness." The Adopt-A-Child Program pairs a child with a high school or college sports team or club as an honorary team member. The team provides love, support and friendship throughout the relationship. Today, Friends of Jaclyn has helped nearly 700 families.

For more information about the foundation, please visit: http://friendsofjaclyn.org

— USD Athletics