After a successful 2019-2020 season, La Academia and Coach Johnson made the necessary moves to make Boys Basketball a PIAA Varsity sport for the first time in school history and would compete in PIAA District 3 at the 1A level. Against all odds, La Academia burst onto the scene capturing the District 3 1A Championship in its inaugural season. Following the championship season, the 2021-2022 season brought another district playoff qualifier.
LAPCS hires Jason Cavell and former Lancaster Mennonite star, Julian Collazo as Assistant Coaches. By end of the 2021-2022 season marked another year of firsts for the Leones: This would be the first time in school history that any student would be recruited after competing for our high school team. 2 Scholar-Athletes signed a National Letter of Intent to play collegiate basketball. Jamal Lebedev chose to continue his career at Camden County College, and Jaquis Heath chose to continue his career at Bucks County Community College.
The 2022-2023 season was one to remember. The Leones finished the season 14-13, falling to Greenwood by 1 point in the District playoffs, in an incredibly hard fought effort. The Leones were a game away from competing at the Giant Center for the District 3 1A Title. Nevertheless, the Leones still qualified for the state tournament for only the second time in school history. In their first round game, they traveled across the state to take on Sullivan County HS in Laporte, PA where they took a commanding win, 69-26. LAPCS ended up falling to state powerhouse, Berlin Brothersvalley in round 2 , 74-63. Berlin Brothersvalley finished only second to eventual champion, Imani Christian.
In 2023-2024 the Leones qualified for the District 3 1A tournament for the 3rd consecutive season, and the 4th time in school history. Finishing with a final record of 11-14, and a game short of a PIAA state tournament birth. Senior guard, Savhon McQueeney became the 3rd player in school history to sign a letter of intent to play collegiate basketball at Penn Highlands Community College in Johnstown, PA.
The 2024-2025 season had it's unique up's and down's. The Leones played one of the hardest schedules in the state of PA at the 1A level against the likes of eventual 4A State Champion, Devon Prep. Other games included Reading High, Overbrook, Executive Education, Conwell-Egan Catholic, Chester High, Council Rock North, and Pottstown. The Leones were the last team (6 seed) to make the PIAA State Tournament from District 3 after qualifying for the district playoffs for the 4th consecutive season. Some memorable moments included a 1 point win against Pottstown High School, a PIAA State Tournament first round upset of 1 seed Conemaugh Valley High School, and an unforgettable put back lay in as time expired in the Second Round of the State Tournament by Elijah Perez to force overtime and an eventual win over Cameron County High School, placing the Leones in the Semifinals (Elite 8) for only the second time in school history as the season hung in the balance. An incredible and improbable run. The Leones fell to eventual state champion, The Neighborhood Academy.
