Long Island family celebrates basketball legacy with another 1,000-point milestone
Long Island family's fourth member hits 1,000 points
High school basketball standout Ryan Leary from Carle Place has scored his 1,000th career point, continuing a family legacy. With three older sisters who also hit the milestone and a mom who achieved it in 1989, you might say basketball is in the Leary family's DNA.
NEW YORK - You could say that basketball is in the DNA of the Leary family, and Ryan Leary is the latest to make his mark.
The Carle Place High School junior recently scored his 1,000th career point, following in the footsteps of his three older sisters and his mother, a former 1,000-point scorer herself.
A family tradition
What we know:
Ryan Leary has been a standout athlete since joining the Carle Place varsity basketball team as an eighth-grader. Now the team captain, he reached the impressive 1,000-point milestone during his junior year.
"I saw all three of my sisters do it," Ryan said. "Once this year came, I knew I could do it too."
Ryan’s three sisters—Erin, Amanda, and Caitlin—all played college basketball, carrying on a tradition started by their mother, Karin Leary. Karin achieved her 1,000th point in 1989 and has been a major influence on her children’s athletic success.
The backstory:
The Leary family’s athletic accomplishments are deeply rooted in their upbringing. Both Karin and her husband, Patrick, are physical education teachers who encouraged their kids to pursue their passions without pressure.
"From when they were born, they had basketball and soccer rattles as soon as they were in the hospital," Karin said.
Patrick, who is heavily involved in coaching, joked about being the only family member who hasn’t scored 1,000 points. "They’re far better athletes than I was," he admitted.
By the numbers:
- Ryan reached 1,000 points faster than any of his siblings.
- The Carle Place record stands at just over 1,450 points, which Ryan is on track to surpass.
- Most high school players don’t even reach 500 points in their careers, according to Carle Place Athletic Director Justin Block.
What's next:
With another year of high school basketball ahead, Ryan hopes to break records and leave his name on the Carle Place gymnasium wall. His family, however, is already proud of what he has accomplished.
"I couldn’t write this ending in my book—it’s perfect. It’s so cool," said Karin.