Kawhi Leonard is an American professional basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

 small forward

Small forward

The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...

 with the San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....

 of the National Basketball Association

National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

. In 2009 as a senior at Martin Luther King High School

Martin Luther King High School (Riverside, California)

Martin Luther King High School is a comprehensive public high school in Riverside, California.-Background:Martin Luther King High School, commonly referred to as "King High School," is the first high school to be built in Riverside, California since 1973. The school opened in 1999 with 858 students...

 in Riverside, California

Riverside, California

Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...

, he was named Mr. Basketball California

California Mr. Basketball

Each year the California Mr. Basketball award is given to the person chosen as the best high school boys basketball player in the U.S. state of California.Many have gone on to play in the NBA....

.

2009-2010 Freshman Season

As a freshman at San Diego State

San Diego State University

San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...

, Leonard averaged 12.7 points per game and 9.9 rebounds along with shooting 45.5% from the field.Leonard was the 2010 Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

2010 Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

-External links:*...

 MVP, first team all MWC Conference selection and led the MWC in rebounding. Leonard led the Aztecs to a 25-9 record including a 11-5 record in the MWC to make the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. San Diego State faced the Tennessee

University of Tennessee

The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...

 in the first round and lost 62-59 as Leonard scored 12 points and added 10 rebounds.

2010-2011 Sophomore Season

As a sophomore, Leonard stood out for the Aztecs as he averaged 15.7 points per game along with 10.4 rebounds. He was picked to the Second Team All-America by Fox Sports, and helped lead SDSU to a 34-3 record, and a trip to the Sweet 16. Leonard could not guide the Aztecs to the Elite 8 or Final 4 as they lost to UConn

University of Connecticut

The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...

, who went on to win the national championship. In addition to getting to the tournament, Leonard helped guide his SDSU Aztecs

SDSU Aztecs

The San Diego State Aztecs are the collegiate athletics and sports teams for San Diego State University .San Diego State has organized programs for baseball, basketball, football, soccer, golf, gymnastics, rowing , softball, tennis, track, swimming, diving, women's volleyball, and water polo.The...

 to back to back Mountain West Championships.

NBA Career

He was drafted 15th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft

2011 NBA Draft

The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...

 by the Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...

, but was traded to the San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....

 shortly thereafter, along with the rights to Erazem Lorbek

Erazem Lorbek

Erazem Lorbek is a Slovenian professional basketball player. He is a forward-center who currently plays with the Liga ACB club FC Barcelona.-Pro career:...

 and the 42nd overall pick Davis Bertans

Dāvis Bertāns

Dāvis Bertāns is a Latvian professional basketball player. He was born in Valmiera, Latvia, and is 2.08 m tall and he weighs 95 kg . He plays at the small forward position...

 in exchange for George Hill

George Hill

George Hill may refer to:*George Hill , American basketball player*George Hill , American race car driver*George Hill , 4-time U.S...

. Since the NBA is in a lockout right now, Leonard has not gotten a chance to sign his rookie contract. Leonard is going to wear the jersey number 2. Leonard played in two exhibition games with former BYU

Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...

 star Jimmer Fredette

Jimmer Fredette

James Taft "Jimmer" Fredette is an American professional basketball player with the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association...

. The games were played on September 21 at the Maverik Center in Salt Lake City and on September 22 in Provo

Provo, Utah

Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...

 at the Marriott Center. Kemba Walker

Kemba Walker

Kemba Hudley Walker is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Bobcats. Walker grew up in The Bronx, New York and graduated from Rice High School in 2008. With the Huskies basketball team at Connecticut, Walker was the 2nd leading college basketball scorer in the United States...

 and Nolan Smith

Nolan Smith

Nolan Derek Smith is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, having been selected with the 21st pick in the 2011 NBA Draft after four years at Duke University. As a senior, he was named a first team AP All-American and the ACC Player of the Year...

also played in the exhibition.

Personal

Leonard's father, Mark Leonard was shot and killed at a neighborhood car wash in January 2008. The murderer has still not been identified after 3 years. Leonard is survived by Kawhi's mother, Kim, and his sister.