The basketball court is like a second home to Alina Estrella.

The James Madison High School senior first started playing in the third grade for a neighborhood league. For the last four years, she's served as the starting point guard for the Lady Knights.

"I love the competition of it, I love having a team and working together toward a goal, and I just like being active. Sports are my passion," said Estrella.

Estrella's coach said that was made perfectly clear as she helped lead the team to three consecutive city championship wins. Even in those high-stakes matchups, he said, Estrella always had a smile on her face.

"She still has fun getting on the court. Some kids, after a while, this becomes a job, but she actually loves it," said Richard Tighe, the girls' basketball coach. "I think [that is] so important because if you're not having fun playing sports, why are you playing?"

When a devastating knee injury put Estrella on the sidelines during her sophomore year, she made a point to attend nearly every practice and game to cheer her teammates on.

"I feel like not being able to be active or run around and just the simple things I took for granted … I can definitely put myself in someone's shoes who is not able to do certain things, because I wasn't," added Estrella. "So I'm really thankful to be able to walk."

Off the court, Estrella is just as dedicated. The honors student's schedule is packed with Advanced Placement (AP) courses, all of which she has excelled in. And when homework isn't filling her time, Estrella volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club. She took the lead in revitalizing public basketball courts in Brooklyn and two other upstate cities, giving back to kids and the sport she loves.

"I guess I wish someone did that for me when I was younger. So seeing all the kids come in the day after and play ... and look at the park like, 'Wait, is that the park?' So it was a really good feeling," added Estrella.

So for scoring big on the court, in the classroom, and in her community, Alina Estrella is NY1's Scholar Athlete of the Week.

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The Spectrum News NY1 Scholar Athlete Program recognizes exceptional public high school student athletes with academic scholarship awards of $1,000 each for use towards college expenses. Nominees must be high school seniors enrolled at public high schools within the five boroughs of New York City in order to be considered.

If you are a public school coach, teacher, administrator or school counselor who would like to nominate a student athlete who excels both in the classroom and on the court, click here to fill out a nomination form.