Bio

Lester Neal took over the Mesa Community College men’s basketball program in the 2022–23 season, bringing with him a wealth of experience as a player, coach, and mentor.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Neal was a standout athlete at Dunbar Vocational High School. He went on to play at Ventura College in California, where he quickly became one of the top junior college players in the country. During his time at Ventura, Neal was a two-time conference MVP, First Team All-State selection, and JUCO All-American. His impact was later recognized with induction into the Ventura College Hall of Fame in 2009 and the California Community College Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Neal continued his playing career at Arizona State University, competing under head coach Bill Frieder from 1991 to 1993. As a senior in 1993, he led the Pac-10 Conference in rebounding. That same season, he became the first recipient of the Lester Neal “Warrior Award,” created by his coaches to honor his relentless work ethic, leadership, and dedication—an award that continued to be given to players who embodied those same qualities in seasons after his departure.

After graduating, Neal embarked on a 10-year professional basketball career, playing in leagues across Europe, Asia, and South America. When his playing days came to an end, he returned to Arizona, earned his degree from Arizona State University, and shifted his focus to serving youth and families from underserved communities throughout the state.

Neal’s passion for basketball brought him back to the game as a coach. He founded the Arizona HYPE AAU program and later spent three seasons each at Scottsdale Community College and Chandler-Gilbert Community College, honing his coaching skills and helping develop student-athletes on and off the court.

Before arriving at Mesa, Neal returned to Ventura College—his alma mater—for a three-year coaching stint. During his tenure, the program completed its first undefeated conference season since 2008 and captured its fifth consecutive Western State Conference Championship.