Meyers Leonard's NBA Draft Stock

pyrak · Dec 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

To me it really matters how Meyers looks against decent competition. Against the Bonnies, honestly, I thought he showed a 6'9 power forward with long arms and good athleticism could keep up with him defensively and offensively. (Though the bonnies were doubling early as well)

How he looks vs the Big Ten teams (especially against Zeller and Sullinger) will determine whether he will be in danger of falling out of the lottery range vs rising to a top 5 pick.

I hope thoughts of this do not impact his staying a team player against those opponents.

That said, I expect him to improve over the season and be a lottery pick.

hermie1985 · Dec 12, 2011, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyrak

To me it really matters how Meyers looks against decent competition. Against the Bonnies, honestly, I thought he showed a 6'9 power forward with long arms and good athleticism could keep up with him defensively and offensively. (Though the bonnies were doubling early as well)

How he looks vs the Big Ten teams (especially against Zeller and Sullinger) will determine whether he will be in danger of falling out of the lottery range vs rising to a top 5 pick.

I hope thoughts of this do not impact his staying a team player against those opponents.

That said, I expect him to improve over the season and be a lottery pick.

If he draws the double team hasn't he already done his job. BP drove to the lane late but backside cuts and drives should have been open all night.

FaninCa · Dec 12, 2011, 12:58 PM

If he can rebound and score in the Big10, then he's gone. They've played a weak schedule so far, and very little was known about Leonard until his breakout Gonzaga game, so lets see how he does after teams have thorougly scouted him and key on him defensively.

Chathamillini · Dec 12, 2011, 01:07 PM

Folks, it is going to come down to whether he WANTS to go! He will be a high 1st round pick the way he is now. I just hope can be convinced by his teammates to stay. We shall see.

BIGCHIEF · Dec 12, 2011, 01:08 PM

Shouldn't a number one pick, as a center especially, be putting putting up 25-30 per game in college? Just sayin.

BIGCHIEF · Dec 12, 2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGCHIEF

Shouldn't a number one pick, as a center especially, be putting putting up 25-30 per game in college? Just sayin.

I'll correct myself, I guess about 15-16 ppg is all you need. Just looked at Greg Oden's stats.

Capt Slammie · Dec 12, 2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chathamillini

Folks, it is going to come down to whether he WANTS to go! He will be a high 1st round pick the way he is now. I just hope can be convinced by his teammates to stay. We shall see.

I know, and I hear ya. We are ruining this poor guy - tempting him to inflate his ego.

We should stop with all the gushing.

Really, good point. He has the type of personality that loves college life, and the thrill of his college team winning on the court. The longer he stays, the higher quality his life will be in the future. A little education never hurts anyone!

Nor has an NCAA Championship been known to cause any harm to a person.

OrangeKrushCheerMaster · Dec 12, 2011, 01:28 PM

I am praying that he stays around. We would be Final Four contenders next year with him.

However, if we were to sneak into the Final Four this year, I would not be complaining if he made the jump

Hugh Jorgen · Dec 12, 2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzIlliniFan

I got a chuckle out of that as well. Didn't I read somewhere he played guard early in his HS/JrHS career, and later wing, until he had his growth spurt?

Yep, I watched him every year at the Capital Classic in Lawrenceville and he went from being a 6'1" guard, to a 6'5" forward, to a 6'10" center, to a legitimate 7' center his senior season.

OrangeKrushCheerMaster · Dec 12, 2011, 01:29 PM

Test him for those growth hormones :laugh:

4LaCosaNostra · Dec 12, 2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeKrushCheerMaster

Test him for those growth hormones :laugh:

good to have you on this board- OKCM!!! keep up the good work

OrangeKrushCheerMaster · Dec 12, 2011, 01:38 PM

Thank you Cosa,

I am doing my very best to make Krush as glorious as it can possibly be!

4LaCosaNostra · Dec 12, 2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeKrushCheerMaster

Thank you Cosa,

I am doing my very best to make Krush as glorious as it can possibly be!

nice!!! Ill be at the UC / make sure the OK is jumping

cyfairslam · Dec 12, 2011, 01:40 PM

OKCM,

It is your job to get him a great girl friend who will not consider moving until she gets her degree from UIUC 2-3 years from now.

OrangeKrushCheerMaster · Dec 12, 2011, 01:41 PM

I will have the people from Krush that are there going crazy for the free throws. I'm sure that at the very least the band will provide plenty of ruckus

PeoriaSteve · Dec 12, 2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe

Barring only injury, Meyers Leonard will certainly be a lottery pick in NBA draft whenever he decides to leave Illinois. Could be 2012.

Draft Express seems to disagree. They have him listed as #17.

OrangeKrushCheerMaster · Dec 12, 2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyfairslam

OKCM,

It is your job to get him a great girl friend who will not consider moving until she gets her degree from UIUC 2-3 years from now.

Cy, would love to help him out, but I need a girlfriend first before worrying about other people :laugh:

FeelYourPaign · Dec 12, 2011, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyfairslam

OKCM,

It is your job to get him a great girl friend who will not consider moving until she gets her degree from UIUC 2-3 years from now.

Isn't there some tall, attractive volleyball player . . . of the appropriate class year . . . that wants a tall, soon to be wealthy boyfriend?

illynifan34 · Dec 12, 2011, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeKrushCheerMaster

Cy, would love to help him out, but I need a girlfriend first before worrying about other people :laugh:

Being in OK is tough on relationships, especially when the team is good and you are camping out twice a week sometimes during conference season and the lady friend isn't as involved as you are, but mine survived, it is possible with the right gal.

Obelix · Dec 12, 2011, 02:26 PM

Leonard is a sure lottery pick. You can find 14 better college basketball players but you can't find 14 better NBA prospects. Especially with Leonard's potential, physical ability and basketball skills. And the NBA is all about potential, not necessarily college achievement.

The other major factor is the shortage of "true centers." NBA teams will not pass up on him. Most of the highly ranked big men (e.g., Sullinger, Davis, etc.) are really PFs.

OrangeKrushCheerMaster · Dec 12, 2011, 02:27 PM

If comes back for his junior year, he could be the #1 pick come draft time. Right now he is probably between #10-#14.

PeoriaSteve · Dec 12, 2011, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt Slammie

Hey, if you aren't old enough to have suffered with us through the 1979 season, then you wont understand.

I was a junior. That team went south when our PG, Steve Lanter, blew his knee out and we had no reasonable back-up (see Michael Orris).

kuhl84 · Dec 12, 2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoriaSteve

Draft Express seems to disagree. They have him listed as #17.

That's actually pretty impressive...they had him as the 51st ranked prospect two weeks ago. Shows you how much his stock is rising.

classof87 · Dec 12, 2011, 03:08 PM

Not meaning to be critical of the coaching staff in any way, but who on the staff is going to better prepare Meyers for playing 5 at the NBA level? The sooner he's playing against talented, next-level-quality bigs, the faster he'll improve. And he won't see many of those in college ball.

I'm at least half-serious in saying that we should be looking to arrange some consulting on NBA big-man play from the likes of Olajuwon or Ewing to help Meyers improve. Hakeem's worked out with DHoward for the last two summers (and it's elevated his offensive game, particularly the footwork) , and we should try to get Meyers to join them next year. (would this be an NCAA violation? - please forgive my ignorance if so) Maybe EddieJ is still friendly with the Dream from their days in Houston?

At any rate, it may take extraordinary measures to entice ML to stay. I agree with those who have him top 3, how can you pass this guy up?

kuhl84 · Dec 12, 2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FeelYourPaign

Isn't there some tall, attractive volleyball player . . . of the appropriate class year . . . that wants a tall, soon to be wealthy boyfriend?

Has a girlfriend already and she doesn't need the money...You might have heard of her family, I believe the athletic building is named after them.

Dec 12, 2011, 01:28 PM	#83
OrangeKrushCheerMaster Location: Washington DC Posts: 74	I am praying that he stays around. We would be Final Four contenders next year with him. However, if we were to sneak into the Final Four this year, I would not be complaining if he made the jump __________________ University of Illinois Alum Class of 2012 2011-2012 Orange Krush Chair in Charge of Cheering

Dec 12, 2011, 01:29 PM	#85
OrangeKrushCheerMaster Location: Washington DC Posts: 74	Test him for those growth hormones :laugh: __________________ University of Illinois Alum Class of 2012 2011-2012 Orange Krush Chair in Charge of Cheering

Dec 12, 2011, 01:38 PM	#87
OrangeKrushCheerMaster Location: Washington DC Posts: 74	Thank you Cosa, I am doing my very best to make Krush as glorious as it can possibly be! __________________ University of Illinois Alum Class of 2012 2011-2012 Orange Krush Chair in Charge of Cheering

Dec 12, 2011, 01:41 PM	#90
OrangeKrushCheerMaster Location: Washington DC Posts: 74	I will have the people from Krush that are there going crazy for the free throws. I'm sure that at the very least the band will provide plenty of ruckus __________________ University of Illinois Alum Class of 2012 2011-2012 Orange Krush Chair in Charge of Cheering

Dec 12, 2011, 02:27 PM	#96
OrangeKrushCheerMaster Location: Washington DC Posts: 74	If comes back for his junior year, he could be the #1 pick come draft time. Right now he is probably between #10-#14. __________________ University of Illinois Alum Class of 2012 2011-2012 Orange Krush Chair in Charge of Cheering

Dec 12, 2011, 12:33 PM	#76
pyrak Posts: 459	To me it really matters how Meyers looks against decent competition. Against the Bonnies, honestly, I thought he showed a 6'9 power forward with long arms and good athleticism could keep up with him defensively and offensively. (Though the bonnies were doubling early as well) How he looks vs the Big Ten teams (especially against Zeller and Sullinger) will determine whether he will be in danger of falling out of the lottery range vs rising to a top 5 pick. I hope thoughts of this do not impact his staying a team player against those opponents. That said, I expect him to improve over the season and be a lottery pick.

Dec 12, 2011, 12:58 PM	#78
FaninCa Posts: 305	If he can rebound and score in the Big10, then he's gone. They've played a weak schedule so far, and very little was known about Leonard until his breakout Gonzaga game, so lets see how he does after teams have thorougly scouted him and key on him defensively.

Dec 12, 2011, 01:07 PM	#79
Chathamillini Posts: 140	Folks, it is going to come down to whether he WANTS to go! He will be a high 1st round pick the way he is now. I just hope can be convinced by his teammates to stay. We shall see.

Dec 12, 2011, 01:08 PM	#80
BIGCHIEF The Best. Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 138	Shouldn't a number one pick, as a center especially, be putting putting up 25-30 per game in college? Just sayin.

Dec 12, 2011, 01:40 PM	#89
cyfairslam Location: Houston, TX Posts: 111	OKCM, It is your job to get him a great girl friend who will not consider moving until she gets her degree from UIUC 2-3 years from now.

Dec 12, 2011, 02:26 PM	#95
Obelix Posts: 1,959	Leonard is a sure lottery pick. You can find 14 better college basketball players but you can't find 14 better NBA prospects. Especially with Leonard's potential, physical ability and basketball skills. And the NBA is all about potential, not necessarily college achievement. The other major factor is the shortage of "true centers." NBA teams will not pass up on him. Most of the highly ranked big men (e.g., Sullinger, Davis, etc.) are really PFs.

Dec 12, 2011, 03:08 PM	#99
classof87 Banned Posts: 225	Not meaning to be critical of the coaching staff in any way, but who on the staff is going to better prepare Meyers for playing 5 at the NBA level? The sooner he's playing against talented, next-level-quality bigs, the faster he'll improve. And he won't see many of those in college ball. I'm at least half-serious in saying that we should be looking to arrange some consulting on NBA big-man play from the likes of Olajuwon or Ewing to help Meyers improve. Hakeem's worked out with DHoward for the last two summers (and it's elevated his offensive game, particularly the footwork) , and we should try to get Meyers to join them next year. (would this be an NCAA violation? - please forgive my ignorance if so) Maybe EddieJ is still friendly with the Dream from their days in Houston? At any rate, it may take extraordinary measures to entice ML to stay. I agree with those who have him top 3, how can you pass this guy up?