A sports journey that began in Brooklyn has fittingly returned to Brooklyn.
Maria Laterza, a Bensonhurst native who went on to play professional basketball in Europe, is the new athletic director at Fontbonne Hall Academy, Bay Ridge. She brings years of valuable experience to help set a positive example for the student-athletes at the all-girls school.
It all started at St. Athanasius, right in the neighborhood where Laterza’s first experienced competitive hoops with the diocesan Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). From there, she stayed in Bensonhurst at Bishop Kearney H.S., which permanently closed in 2019.
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For the Tigers, she turned in a stellar four-year career as a center. She earned All-City honors, scored more than 1,000 career points, and guided her team to an appearance in the CHSAA state semifinals.
The 2007 Kearney graduate then earned a full athletic scholarship to Marist University in Poughkeepsie, New York. In her four years there, Laterza played in the women’s NCAA Tournament each year and during her senior year was captain of the winningest team in program history.
While visiting family in Italy the summer before her senior season, she made an impact playing against men who played in European professional leagues. She built meaningful connections, and after graduation, she found herself back overseas playing professionally in Austria.
From there, she played several seasons in Italy, which included earning a roster spot on the Italian national team. Her teams won numerous club championships and played in the prestigious EuroBasket Women’s basketball championship in 2015.
After a shoulder injury, she was at a career crossroads. She had an opportunity in front of her to work for the NBA’s league office in Manhattan, yet she also still had plenty of game left.
“When the NBA comes calling and offers you a position in the front office, you take it, because it’s probably not going to come again,” said Laterza, who became an executive assistant for the NBA’s international basketball operations. “That’s exactly what I did.”
This role took her around the globe, primarily with Basketball Without Borders and the NBA Academy — both of which focus on identifying top international players for a potential future as pros. Laterza specifically launched the first-ever NBA Academy Women’s Program in 2017 to create global opportunities for international women.
After coming out of retirement for another playing stint, she wound up back in Brooklyn a few years ago. From officiating CYO games to offering free hoops clinics to working with the Brooklyn Basketball Academy in Park Slope, she was happy to be back in one place after years traveling the world.
“I spent so much time away, but what’s really important to me is giving back and paying it forward,” Laterza said. “I feel passionate about community, youth sports, and advocating for women’s sports within our area — and just giving more young women and kids in general opportunities through sports that can unlock pathways to colleges or any other opportunity that gives them visibility throughout our South Brooklyn neighborhood.”
Given her background in athletic operations as well as with the CHSAA, she was the perfect fit for the Fontbonne athletic director position. Previous athletic director Linda Strong is now Laterza’s assistant while remaining assistant volleyball coach for the Bonnies.
“Obviously, the closing of Bishop Kearney was really dear to my heart,” Laterza said. “I’m super grateful that the Sisters of St. Joseph have opened their arms to me and given me this opportunity here at Fontbonne to be able to apply everything I’ve learned.
“Everybody is talking about women’s sports right now. Being at an all-girls school is an incredible opportunity, and it’s one of the few times in sports that young women will be the number one focus. That’s a big goal of mine — to be able to grant these young women the resources on the court or on the field in terms of player development and leadership.”
Already, Laterza has instituted a new policy that’s rare among the CHSAA member schools. Through communication and flexibility, she is allowing young women to play multiple sports during the same season. For example, a student-athlete who plays soccer and volleyball — both fall sports — can now play both if they choose.
“If you look at the research that’s out there, a lot of the young athletes that are playing multiple sports are excelling beyond those that are just in a singular sport,” Laterza said.
For Fontbonne student-athletes, having Laterza in the building every day is a reminder that if they work hard and stay committed to the sports they love, there’s a chance they too can build a career around their passion. She takes this responsibility as a role model seriously, since she remembers the positive influence her mentors had on her.
“I feel really called to this role,” she said. “I feel like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be. I’m really blessed and super honored to have this opportunity. It’s storybook for me.”
Laterza’s new chapter proves to the Bonnies that they can achieve their dreams in establishing a rewarding career. She’s now giving back to the community so close to her heart, since she was among the first from these South Brooklyn neighborhoods to go pro.
“My hope,” she said, “is that I’m certainly not the last.”
