Leo Rautins was a multi-talented power forward, with exceptionally strong ball handling skills. Rautins could play the point position, rebound and score inside and from the perimeter. He was a solid free throw shooter, and a clutch player.

Rautins was one of the top players ever to come out of Canada. He was on the Canadian National Team when he was only 16 years old, the youngest player ever to hold that honor, and remained on the team from 1977-1982, and again from 1989-1992. He missed the Olympics because of the boycott in 1980.

He started his collegiate career in Minnesota, where as a freshman he was second in the Big 10 conference in assists to a sophomore named Magic Johnson. He was named to the Big 10's all-rookie team, averaging 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.

Rautins transferred to Syracuse after his freshman year, and became a vital component of the team. He capped off his first season with a dramatic tip in of a game winning shot for a triple overtime victory against Villanova to give Syracuse its first Big East Tournament Championship. As a junior, he missed seven games due to a knee injury, something that would come back to haunt him later as a professional. Rautins would record a triple double against St. Peters in the NIT Tournament with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 84-75 win.

As a tri-captain with Erich Santifer and Tony Bruin his senior year, Rautins helped lead Syracuse back to the NCAA tournament. Rautins recorded the first triple double in Big East history on January 1st, 1983 against Georgetown when he had 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. A month later, he performed the feat again against Boston College with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. Amazingly, Rautins only made the Big East third team his senior year, though the league was admittedly full of future NBA All Stars at that time. He was named Honorable Mention All American in 1983.

Rautins was drafted in the first round following his senior year, the 17th pick overall, by the Philadelphia 76'ers. Unfortunately the same knee injury that bothered him at Syracuse, would shorten his NBA career to just two seasons with Philadelphia and Atlanta.

Rautins played another seven years of professional basketball in Europe, in leagues in Italy (1985-87), France (1989-90, 92), and Spain (1991-92). He retired from playing basketball permanently in 1992 after his 14th knee operation.

After his playing career Rautins went into broadcasting for ESPN and other basketball networks, including being the color analyst for the Toronto Raptors (NBA). He also ran several basketball camps in Canada and upstate New York. Rautins was the head coach of the Canadian National Team in 2005-2006.

Rautins was named to the Syracuse All-Century Team in 2000. He was named a Syracuse Letterwinner of Distinction in 2011. His son Andy was a scholarship player from 2006-2010.

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