DePaul University Athletics
Ex-DePaul Star Mejia Fired up About Leitao's Return
4/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO -- There weren't many people more delighted than Sammy Mejia at the news that Dave Leitao was returning to coach at DePaul.
"My first reaction to coach Leitao's return was one of excitement and joyful memories," said Mejia, the 6-foot, 6-inch former Blue Demon star and European pro basketball standout who was the most valuable player of the Turkish Basketball League last season.
"It brought me back to my time there and the success we had during the time we shared. I'm hoping he can bring back the same kind of success and excitement to men's basketball.
"I immediately thought about how much I enjoyed our relationship, and how much I was able to improve during our time together. He taught me how to fight and be a winner, and that mentality carried over to every aspect of my life."
It's a life that included a trip to the NCAA tournament as a Blue Demon freshman, to the NIT as a sophomore and an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection as a senior. Mejia was chosen by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft, and after playing professionally in Italy, Greece, France and Russia, he has settled down in Turkey.
He is the leading scorer and rebounder of the Banvit BK team in the town of Bandirma which advanced to the EuroCup semifinals behind Mejia's 18 points and nine rebounds in a 75-71 victory over Paris-Levallois on March 24. Despite Mejia's 25 points that included 5-of-6 three-pointers, Banvit fell in the April 8 semifinals to BC Khimki Moscow 93-89.
The Bronx-born Mejia caught the eye of college recruiters after averaging 37 points, 15 rebounds and five assists at the Storm King prep school in New York. Miami, Seton Hall and USF were the favorites for landing the multi-talented forward.
As a favor to his AAU coach who was friends with Leitao, Mejia made a visit to Lincoln Park where he was charmed by the coach, his future teammates and the university.
The rest, as they say, is history. Mejia made the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in the 2003-04 season and teamed with Drake Diener, Quemont Greer, Andre Brown and Delonte Holland is taking DePaul to its first NCAA tournament since the 1999-2000 season. The Blue Demons defeated Dayton in the opener before falling to Connecticut in the second round.
As a junior, Mejia had 24 points and seven rebounds including a turnaround jumper with 13 seconds left along with a pair of clutch free throws in DePaul's 84-81 road upset of No. 16 Wake Forest.
"There was no way in the world I wasn't going to take that shot," Mejia told the Chicago Tribune. "This is what you dream about as a kid. It was a great feeling---something I can tell my kids about."
Turns out that was merely a precursor to his heroics as a senior. Blue Demon fans fondly recall the unexpected 14-point comeback on Dec. 2, 2006 when DePaul upset No. 5 Kansas 64-57. Mejia ignited the rally with eight-straight points in the final three minutes as the Allstate Arena crowd went berserk.
His game-high 23 points included the game-tying 3-pointer and five more points after that in capping off a storybook ending. Mejia pulled off the heroics despite being alternately guarded by two eventual NBA players, Mario Chalmers (Miami Heat) and Brandon Rush (Golden State Warriors).
"That Kansas win is one of my most memorable victories during my college career," Mejia said. "I remember my family being in town for that game. Kansas was really good that year, and we put up a good fight and were able to pull through in the end for the win.
"Those eight points at the end of that game is my most exciting stretch during any game. I remember those three shots like it happened yesterday. The sound of the fans after every shot stands out. The fans were great, and they always showed me so much love. I loved our fans."
Everyone was a Sammy Mejia fan four weeks later when he scored 27 points in the first half (5-of-6 three-pointers) en route to a career-high 40 points during a 97-67 rout of Northwestern State at Allstate Arena. It was DePaul's first 40-point performance in 16 years since David Booth hit the 40-point mark on Dec. 15, 1990 in a 92-90 loss to UCLA.
"The 40-point game was one for the books," Mejia said. "I remember having 27 points at halftime, and my teammates told me that I would not be able to reach 30. It felt like I could not miss that game, but I assumed that after halftime, the opposing team would plan to get the ball out of my hands.
"I had 30 points with 10 minutes to play. I was able to get a lot of opportunities in transition and my shots kept falling. Towards the end of that game, my teammates were trying to find ways to help me score.
"I was fortunate enough to reach the 40-point mark. It was great hearing the fans cheer me on. It's like they knew I was going for 40."
Such memories were made possible after Leitao's early tough-love lessons. Leitao had the confidence to entrust the rookie with the point guard position, but was quick to point out mistakes and replace him after poor decision-making or inaccurate passes.
"I'd hear the horn and be out of there real quick," Mejia recalled. "It was tough because I had not seen that side of him. It was like, `who is this guy?' But as it turns out, coach Leitao was doing a great job of building toughness in me.
"Dave is a very hungry and ambitious coach. He really knows how to get the most out his players by teaching that heart and desire will bring you more success than talent. He embraces challenges and teaches his players that they can overcome whatever they set their mind to achieving."
Two of Mejia's favorite memories are the NCAA tournament and the NBA Draft.
"Being a part of the NCAA tournament was huge for our program," Mejia said. "It had been a while since DePaul made it, and it brought a nice excited atmosphere to the program. Just being a part of that run my freshman year was a great way to start my career. I'll never forget it.
"Getting my name called in the NBA Draft was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I will never take that accomplishment for granted. Everyone does not get their name called, and I was fortunate to experience that. I will cherish that moment for the rest of my life."
The 32-year-old Mejia became a 1,000-point scorer in the Turkish Basketball League on Nov. 1, 2014 His season high in a TBL game was 27 points on Dec. 7, 2014.
"Basketball in Europe is very different from what it is back in the USA," Mejia said. "My team is doing well. This is my third year with this team, and Turkey has become my second home.
"It's great being able to live in different cultures and experience life in different countries. I enjoy all the travel and have been to a lot of places that I might never have visited if not for my career in Europe. It's great, and my family and I are enjoying it."
Being 5,420 miles away and immersed in his pro season, Mejia could not welcome Leitao back in person. Instead, he sent the following e-mail:
"Congratulations to Dave Leitao on his return home. The DePaul family celebrates with you, and we are glad that your heart is still with the program. I wish I could be there to share this moment with you, Jeanne and the rest of the DePaul community.
"Hearing your name linked to DePaul brings back so many great memories, and I believe that you will continue to create great memories in the near future. I am proud to have been one of your players. I've learned so much from our time together, and I still carry a lot of those things with me today. My family and I still talk about you as a coach and person, and the news of your return caused a celebration. Please know that you have me rooting for you at all times.
"I also want to congratulate Jeanne [athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto] on everything that she does for the university and how committed she is to the program. She makes things feel like home, and I thank her for that. I remember her telling me these exact words during my senior year. `Sammy, you know that everybody always comes back, right?' I hope she told coach Leitao those same words. If not, I'll make sure to do so when we see each other again. To this day, I think of those words while my memories bring me back. DePaul is a great place full of great people. I'm looking forward to seeing all you guys soon."
Mejia was asked if he had a special message for his former coach.
"Tell Dave that I wish him the best of luck, and that I will be cheering for him," Mejia said. "I am a true Dave Leitao believer, and both DePaul and Chicago will benefit from what he will bring to the program. Continue to make us proud and know that you will always have my support."
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