As Lenard moves on to the next level, a new leader emerges for the Tigers
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Snyder senior Teafale Lenard drove to the basket during a game this past season. Lenard will continue his playing career at Link Year Prep in Missouri. -
Sophomore Eber Murillo (right) will take his place as a leader and scorer for the Tigers in 2020.
A new batch of awards rolled in for the Snyder Tiger basketball team as the Big Country teams were announced over the weekend.
Senior Teafale Lenard was named first team all-Big Country and was named to the all-Big Country Super Team. Senior Jayden Samaniego earned honorable mention and sophomore Eber Murillo was named the Big Country Newcomer of the Year.
Snyder head coach Lee Scott said the post-season awards re-affirm the work his team put in during the season
“It just means that we were able to accomplish a lot and people took notice,” he said. “All the kids’ hard work paid off and was noticed.”
Murillo came on strong in his sophomore campaign with 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
He was named the District 5-4A Newcomer of the Year in March and has set himself up to be a key figure going forward for the Tigers.
“He was a huge X-factor for us,” he said.
“He went from being on the freshman team last year straight up to varsity. He stepped in and never blinked an eye. He came in and became our second leading scorer throughout district. Like (Teafale), he can play either guard or post due to his athletic ability.”
Lenard was one of the most dynamic players in District 5-4A and Scott said Lenard was a rare talent and did great things for the Snyder program.
“Teafale is a very special player,” he said. “He has things that you can’t coach and that is the athletic ability and his height. He is coachable and did what we asked him to do. He could have been somebody that said ‘I’m going to go out and get mine’ but he put his team on his back and carried everyone along with him. He was a team player.”
With his athletic ability, college coaches and scouts took notice and Scott said Lenard had several suitors calling about the possibility of having him play for them at the next level.
“He had several people asking about him and trying to get information on him,” he said.
“We had talked to several junior colleges and even a couple D-1 schools asked about him. The main thing is they want him to get stronger.”
Lenard will build that strength at Link Year Prep, a Christian-based education program based in Mississippi. that allows athletes to retain all four years of eligibility. Lenard will attend Link Year in the hopes of putting together a good enough season to make the leap to Division I play.
“He will have to pick it up a notch,” Scott said.
“Going to college basketball is basically a job. It’s a 24/7 deal. He will realize that everyone is going to be like him now. Everyone is the stud off their team, so he will have to take it up another notch to stand out. The main thing is they want him to get stronger and I think Link Year Prep will allow him to do that.”