Mark Leszczyk, coach of the national champion Roxbury Community College women’s basketball team, sees a lot of qualities he likes in New London’s Charee Osborne, whom he announced Wednesday will join his successful program next year. Her talent is one.

Osborne, a two-time all-state pick, recently led the New London High School girls’ basketball team (25-2) to the Class L state championship game and the No. 4 overall ranking in Connecticut.

Leszcyyk sees other things in Osborne, also: Her work ethic, her character — she asked him to wait to announce her commitment to the program until after she notified other coaches who were recruiting her — and her confidence.

“To her credit, she has controlled the recruiting process,” Leszczyk said of Osborne, The Day’s 2016 All-Area Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year. “That shows confidence. She wanted us to wait until after her final all-star appearance. We kept on going to her games. Once, I showed up in a green shirt and a gold tie, per her request, to show my support for the Whalers.”

Roxbury won the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III National Championship on March 12, topping Northland Community and Technical College (Minn.) 61-57. It was Roxbury’s first title, having lost the championship game last year in overtime.

A 5-foot-10 forward, Osborne averaged 15.1 points and 9.1 rebounds for New London during the regular season. She leaves the program with a career total of 1,117 points and 71 wins in the last three seasons, including the 2014 Class M state championship.

“A lot of people have the belief that junior college is for students who don’t get grades. Charee’s grades in high school are terrific,” Leszczyk said. “The role we play at Roxbury is to serve as a bridge for the underrecruited. Charee is an underrecruited athlete."

"I like the family aspect of it, but also how hard-working the coach and the players seem to be," Osborne said. "... I think it's cool (Leszczyk) knew I had some tough decisions to make and still waited for mine. I think he's really going to put me in the position that I want to be in."

According to Leszczyk, every player departing Roxbury this year is leaving with a scholarship. In his tenure, 84 percent of Leszczyk’s players left with scholarships, he said. He has coached nine All-Americans.

The coach said Osborne might play more of a small forward role at Roxbury, where he hopes to aid her development as an all-around player and not just a standout in the post.

“A lot of kids these days, they think they’re really good. They’re brought up to believe they’re good,” Leszczyk said. “Charee is someone who’s extremely humble, but still knows she’s good. She’s a high-character young lady.”

v.fulkerson@theday.com