With seconds left in the game the Highlanders are down by two. Tensions are high as the ball is passed to junior and German foreign exchange student Cleo Asfar. She may appear to be your average high school athlete, but Asfar’s road to the hardwood for Piedmont’s Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team has been far from typical.
Asfar is a starter on the team and was recently named the 49ers Cal-Hi Player of the Week after having 21 points and 6 three-pointers.
“My dad and brother used to play basketball, and I would always love to watch my brother’s games,” Asfar said. “My brother is one of the main reasons why I started playing.”
Asfar always wanted to come to the United States as a foreign exchange student. Her high school in Germany had no basketball team, which gave her even more of a reason to come to the U.S.
“There are no high school sports in Germany so being able to play high school basketball here made me want to transfer even more.”
However basketball was not the only reason Asfar wanted to come to the U.S.
“I have wanted to become an exchange student since elementary school. I wanted to improve my English and learn more about the culture here,” Asfar said.
Asfar started her junior year at PHS and adjusted to her new life quickly, making friends, and learning more about life here.
“Making friends was not as hard as I expected it to be. After I joined the basketball team I made friends after only a few weeks,” Asfar said.
Asfar has been a large part of the team’s success, not just with her skill, but also her ability to connect with her teammates so quickly.
“She is super outgoing and made friends with us very quickly. Everyone loves to be around her and she brings such an amazing energy,”said Girls’ Basketball player and freshman Jenelle Solis.
The teams current record is 15-4 and they are 3-1 in league. Asfar said she’s proud of the growth she’s had throughout the season.
“I feel I have grown a lot since the season started, not only as a player but also a person,” Asfar said.
