If C.J. Leslie shot a jumper as well as he keeps a secret, the North Carolina State freshman might be a far more alluring prospect in the eyes of NBA scouts.
First Leslie made NC State fans wait several agonizing weeks after the start of the spring signing period last year before at last announcing he would indeed play for the hometown Wolfpack. Then the early-entry deadline for the NBA draft came and went on Sunday night without the former highly touted recruit revealing whether he'd decided to turn pro or not.
At last, an NC State spokesman announced Monday that Leslie did not submit draft paperwork and would return for his sophomore season. The 6-foot-8 forward likely would have been a mid-to-late first-round pick despite averaging just 11 points as a freshman, struggling with shot selection and shooting only 25 percent from 3-point range.
The return of Leslie is critical for an NC State program trying to rise from the ashes of the disastrous Sidney Lowe era.� Leading scorer Tracy Smith graduated after a disappointing 15-16 season, but the likely return of the freshman trio of Leslie, Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Brown and sophomores Scott Wood and Richard Howell give coach Mark Gottfried a nucleus capable of contending for an NCAA tournament berth.
Speculation about Leslie's future intensified following the arrival of Gottfried because the freshman forward said he wanted to get to know his new coach before deciding whether he'd come back to college. That he did return to the surprise of many shows the sort of restraint, patience and maturity that were rare from Leslie on the court during the season.
Leslie frequently drew criticism from fans and media for his poor shot selection and decision making. In his apparent zeal to live up to his high school all-American hype, he often hoisted contested shots early in the shot clock or attacked the rim through traffic rather than looking for an open teammate.
Raw athleticism, length and leaping ability probably would have been enough to get Leslie drafted in the first round this June, but another year in college might help him harness his immense upside and enter the NBA at a higher pay scale.
Maybe he bulks up to the point where he can play power forward in the NBA. Maybe he hones his jump shot to the point where he can play on the wing. Either way, another year or two in college will help him tap into his potential and maximize his chances for success at the professional level.
China Chow Alecia Elliott Kat Von D Ana Paula Lemes Vanessa Simmons
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