Former Sea hoops standout up for Coach John Wooden Citizenship Cup

St. Joseph by-the-Sea product Alec Willis is up for the prestigious Coach John Wooden Memorial Citizenship Cup Award.

St. Joseph-by-the-Sea alum Alec Willis is a selfless player on the court and  exhibits those same qualities off the court.

That's why the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) senior has been nominated by the school for the Coach John Wooden Citizenship Cup Award, given annually to distinguished athletes from any sport that best display character, teamwork, and citizenship, the attributes Athletes for a Better World deems central to transforming individuals, sport, and society.

Alec Willis is a captain for St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn).

The award, named after former legendary UCLA basketball coach, establishes the recipients as athletes of excellence both on and off the field, role models both as performers and persons, the most important and distinctive honor athletes can achieve.

And that is, no doubt, what separates Willis from the rest.

Willis is president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and has been extremely active in the classroom, the athletic department, and the school.

"It truly means a lot to be nominated. To have the opportunity to potentially receive a nationally recognized award that embodies the ideals of John Wooden is something I am just blessed to be a part of," said Willis. "To win the award would be great but the real honor is having been placed in a position to impact so many people's lives."

Outside of school, Willis has organized many fundraisers with his fellow student athletes, like the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in MCU Park, and the first annual Bears Card Party where he and his teammates raised over $7,000 to support St. Joseph's athletes and teams.

The team captain is also a standout on the court.

"Alec has been instrumental for us thus far this year, most recently going coast to coast and hitting a game winning jumper with two seconds left at St. Joseph's College Long Island this past Saturday," said Bears coach Joe Cocozello. "As our captain, Alec starts along with four sophomores and with him, our top six guys in minutes played are sophomores."

Cocozello recalls a recent game against Sarah Lawrence where one of his teammates called a play for Willis as he was crossing half court. Willis declined and called a set to get the ball inside.

"This shows that he is truly a selfless individual. From day one with him, it has always been about the team. It also shows that he knows the game very well and was aware we had an advantage on the interior," added Cocozello.

Willis credits his success to his family, and former coaches and teammates.

"Everything you have seen from me is nothing I can call my own. It is the work and effort of many people that I have been blessed to have apart of my life."

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