Michelle Valle had no idea she was on TV. All the Manhattan Center senior knew was that she was receiving an award at Madison Square Garden during halftime of a Knicks game and had met Amare’ Stoudemire and Landry Fields earlier.
“It was definitely a nice experience,” Valle said. “A lot of people kept telling me congratulations – that’s when I realized I was on television.”
The 5-foot-9 forward wouldn’t have been nervous even if she knew. Valle’s goal is to become a lawyer and eventually get into politics. Her hero is Michelle Obama and that’s one of the reasons Valle is so interested in attending Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga. The first lady visits the all-women, historically black institution often and is giving the commencement address there in May.
“They build strong women there,” Valle said. “I’m interested in that.”
The East Harlem native is already one of those. That’s why she was honored the Debusschere Award, which goes annually to a basketball player, male and female, who have outstanding accomplishments on the court and in the classroom and also perform community service. Valle, a 92 student at Manhattan Center, volunteers at Ronald McDonald House.
“She’s always been the number one person helping the basketball team when they’re having trouble in school,” Lady Rams coach Jaywana Bradley said. “She’s always been our tutor. … She’s always shown me she was a student before an athlete.”
Valle was humble about receiving such a distinction. She says she was brought up believing that one should not be rewarded for things he or she is supposed to do. But Valle has had a tough road, staying focused on school and basketball all the while dealing with the death of her mother four years ago, just when she was beginning to get to know her for the first time.
“Sometimes you don’t understand why you’re working so hard,” Valle said. “It’s rewarding at the end of senior year to get something.”
Her senior year was by far her best on the basketball court. Valle became a force inside and on the glass for Manhattan Center, which fell to eventual PSAL city champion Murry Bergtraum, 65-52, in the ‘AA’ quarterfinals. She had 15 points in that game, which was much closer than the score would indicate.
Bradley said she was much more focused on basketball this year, the same focus she has always shown on academics. Right now Valle is looking for a high-end academic school and is pushing hard for Spelman.
The plan is to continue her basketball career in college as well. But Valle knows her future could be in the political arena.
“Everyone is always complaining about the government,” she said. “Why not do something to possibly change it?”
