Meyers Leonard in the NBA Draft - Leonard selected 11th by Portland

[FeelYourPaign]

Originally Posted by cyfairslam

Get off the bus Meyers and get ready to get on the D league bus. If you can handle the next few years, you can be a good NBA player. But for today, there are Jr. High players all over the country that have your skill level.

Groce, go get us a good recruit.

I think I saw something sillier than this on here before, but maybe not. Instant ignore, just add water.

[Liniouek]

I just hope that at one point in MLs career, he is one of those players that I can look at and say proudly "He's one of us. Hes an Illini forever." - hopefully that is right after a smashing dunk in someones face in an NBA playoff game...

[Calvin]

Originally Posted by Waam

Paul has been here long enough. If somebody will pick you in the 2nd round, go for it.

BP3 will need a breakout senior year to get drafted.

[Ransom Stoddard]

Originally Posted by cyfairslam

Get off the bus Meyers and get ready to get on the D league bus. If you can handle the next few years, you can be a good NBA player. But for today, there are Jr. High players all over the country that have your skill level.

Groce, go get us a good recruit.

ML won't spend a minute in the D-league. He's likely a top 15 pick (possibly better once the hype machine gets into gear) and will be on an opening day roster this fall.

[MoeGreen]

ML won't spend a minute in the D-league. He's likely a top 15 pick (possibly better once the hype machine gets into gear) and will be on an opening day roster this fall.

Certainly Meyers hopes that some diligent hard work can get him on a big squad's floor come November and that's his intentions but he's also not coming into this with grandiose delusions. He knows there's lots of work to do and knows that he's got a ways to get there with real possibilities of seeing the ropes in the D-League.

[CharlesLawrence]

I'm sorry did I miss that BP3 declared. I heard he was testing the waters. When did this happen that he 100% declared ? Because at this moment I don't see him getting drafted. Not until he becomes a complete player. What was his average TO ratio per game? Couldn't be good. I think BP3 would flourish next yeA because if he does. JG will sit him on the bench

[Dan]

Originally Posted by CharlesLawrence

I'm sorry did I miss that BP3 declared. I heard he was testing the waters. When did this happen that he 100% declared ?

Brandon Paul has not declared.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by CharlesLawrence

I'm sorry did I miss that BP3 declared. I heard he was testing the waters. When did this happen that he 100% declared ?

He didn't and I would be surprised if Paul wasn't back for the 2012-13 season.

[OrangeFever]

Originally Posted by MoeGreen

Certainly Meyers hopes that some diligent hard work can get him on a big squad's floor come November and that's his intentions but he's also not coming into this with grandiose delusions. He knows there's lots of work to do and knows that he's got a ways to get there with real possibilities of seeing the ropes in the D-League.

Are you ML's favorite uncle? You certainly seem to have the solid inside scoop on what he's thinking. You've got to be his mentor. :rolleyes:

[Illiniwek06]

Weber on Waddle/Silvy just said the feedback he had received on ML's draft position is anywhere between 8-20.

[Waam]

Now that Leonard has declared. Getting drafted high and playing well in the NBA can only help Illini nation.

[Bill74]

Originally Posted by MoeGreen

At least when the new 'Home of Meyers Leonard' signs go up along with the 'Home of James Jones' signs, one of the two actually likes his hometown. It always bothered me to see the signs trumpeting being the hometown of a guy that wrote novels about his disdain for Robinson.

What a long, long way you've come Meyers. Beware the Hall of Fame Parasites you will now encounter trying to separate you from your money! Finish your degree and plan for life after your playing days... which I hope doesn't come for a very long time.

I know this isn't "Literary Corner," but James Jones, while perhaps unkind to the town in which he was raised, wrote books (Some Came Running, From Here to Eternity, The Thin Red Line, Whistle) that were some of the best written in the 20th Century. Most were made into critically acclaimed films. Robinson would do well to keep the signs up. They will endure long after ML's professional career is over.

[drumanimal]

Originally Posted by Illiniwek06

Weber on Waddle/Silvy just said the feedback he had received on ML's draft position is anywhere between 8-20.

Just heard that as well. ML basically stated that if Weber leaves so does he. That would explain to me why he hasn't been around at all after the Iowa loss.

[Tygor]

I think ML is going to be a pretty good NBA player. He has the tools to make the jump, and hopefully (for his sake) he finds a team that will help him develop into a better player. I've always thought that with proper coaching he could be a terrific player, I just don't think he was able to get that here. Depending on the team, having a dedicated coach to help him out could be the difference between being a future all-star or just a weak bench player.

I'm not that informed on many NBA coaching staffs, but I do know that some teams really work with younger players whereas some will just assume the work is being done by the player and will rotate the top 8 in regardless of potential of 9-12.

[Brillini]

I can't blame Meyers. It's tough to pass up the instant incentives of being a potential lottery pick/mid-to-late first rounder at worst. I think it would have benefited him to stay one more year to work on some parts of his game. But, who knows, maybe he'll benefit leaps and bounds from working with a NBA caliber big-man coach. Either way, I wish the kid the best of luck in the league.

For us, from a program perspective, it sucks. IMO our success for next season hinged more heavily on ML staying than our choice of a new HC. Obviously, long term the coaching decision was significantly more important, ML can only play here for so long, but I think ML's decision has more immediate ramifications. IMO w/o a junior campaign from ML next season, we go from being a team flirting with a potential first round bye in the BTT to a team that probably finishes 7th or 8th in B1G. This could all just be a knee-jerk reaction on my part and my perspective may be all out of whack, but at the moment this is how I'm feeling.

On the BP3 topic. If he declares for the draft, he would be making a ridiculous mistake. I'm not saying that he's lottery pick material in the 2013 draft but I can't imagine many people, if any, even consider him 2nd round caliber at this point. He needs to stay his senior year, figure some stuff out with his game and try and develop an identity as a player that could translate to some success at the next level.

[drumanimal]

Originally Posted by Brillini

I can't blame Meyers. It's tough to pass up the instant incentives of being a potential lottery pick/mid-to-late first rounder at worst. I think it would have benefited him to stay one more year to work on some parts of his game. But, who knows, maybe he'll benefit leaps and bounds from working with a NBA caliber big-man coach. Either way, I wish the kid the best of luck in the league.

For us, from a program perspective, it sucks. IMO our success for next season hinged more heavily on ML staying than our choice of a new HC. Obviously, long term the coaching decision was significantly more important, ML can only play here for so long, but I think ML's decision has more immediate ramifications. IMO w/o a junior campaign from ML next season, we go from being a team flirting with a potential first round bye in the BTT to a team that probably finishes 7th or 8th in B1G. This could all just be a knee-jerk reaction on my part and my perspective may be all out of whack, but at the moment this is how I'm feeling.

On the BP3 topic. If he declares for the draft, he would be making a ridiculous mistake. I'm not saying that he's lottery pick material in the 2013 draft but I can't imagine many people, if any, even consider him 2nd round caliber at this point. He needs to stay his senior year, figure some stuff out with his game and try and develop an identity as a player that could translate to some success at the next level.

I would say we are now a rebuild project and it depends on who is going to be transferring.

[Brillini]

Originally Posted by drumanimal

I would say we are now a rebuild project and it depends on who is going to be transferring.

Agreed. The transfer situation is where I'm turning my attention to now with this program. Here's to hoping the young guys make a connection with Groce and decide to stay.

[OrangeFever]

The Leonard family has a lot of needs. Few doubt that another year in school, playing the post, would benefit ML's skill development, but there are so many other, more important issues confronting him.

Right now, he's healthy, fully intact physically, and a formidable prospect. Everything else is an unknown.

I hope everything works out for him and for his family and that he has a long and fruitful NBA carreer.

It was a pleasure having him in our program--a rare opportunity. I wish we had been able to accomplish more and make better use of his abilities, but things rarely turn out ideally. Maybe the best thing is that he is healthy and whole and able to make the jump to the NBA. I hope he'll land in a place where he has good mentors and teachers and will be appropriately shielded.

[cyfairslam]

I think ML is going to be a pretty good NBA player. He has the tools to make the jump, and hopefully (for his sake) he finds a team that will help him develop into a better player. I've always thought that with proper coaching he could be a terrific player, I just don't think he was able to get that here. Depending on the team, having a dedicated coach to help him out could be the difference between being a future all-star or just a weak bench player.

ML is so raw, any program could help him who has someone close to his size to work against. Take away his alley oops and open dumps and there was not much there other than his right hand baby hook that may not be all that successful against bigger stronger NBA players.

I like ML and I think he will be a good NBA player as well if he can get through his first few years. Hopefully, he will have a dedicated coach to work with.

[OrchardDowns]

If he's a first-round and/or lottery pick, he needs to go now! Now doubt about it!! Good luck Meyers!! I will always be a fan wherever you play next season!!

[Psycho 86]

Originally Posted by OrangeFever

The Leonard family has a lot of needs. Few doubt that another year in school, playing the post, would benefit ML's skill development, but there are so many other, more important issues confronting him.

Right now, he's healthy, fully intact physically, and a formidable prospect. Everything else is an unknown.

I hope everything works out for him and for his family and that he has a long and fruitful NBA carreer.

It was a pleasure having him in our program--a rare opportunity. I wish we had been able to accomplish more and make better use of his abilities, but things rarely turn out ideally. Maybe the best thing is that he is healthy and whole and able to make the jump to the NBA. I hope he'll land in a place where he has good mentors and teachers and will be appropriately shielded.

Well said OF !!

[Hugh Jorgen]

Originally Posted by Illiniguy34

Just because I knew it was going to happen doesn't make it anymore easy to accept. Only one year of that tremendous potential.

Very frustrating to think of the type of player he could have been for us the next couple years.

But good luck Meyers I'll be rooting for you.

2010 will go down as the most frustrating and disappointing recruiting class of all time in my mind...the incredible talent that we had in Richmond, Leonard, and Head and it didn't pay out any dividends at all.

Really, that pattern summed up much of our recruiting the past decade. Lots of promise and excitement, followed up by a whole lot of 'what if'.

McCamey impressed me overall with his career, as it was flat out solid and pretty darn consistent from start to finish. Davis was a nice surprise. Leonard flashed incredible potential this season as well.

But when you look back on it all, we essentially got nothing out of 2006, nothing again in 2008, and nothing out of 2010 which was supposed to be the class that returned us to glory when stacked on top of the experienced 2007 class that served as a solid foundation to build on.

Take any 3 top recruits from Kentucky, UNC, Duke, Kansas, MSU, O$U, etc, and you regularly seem to get at least a combined 6+ years (2+yrs each) of meaningful production out of them. For us, we get a similar stellar class, and end up getting 1 year of production from each of them and then their gone.

[Hugh Jorgen]

Originally Posted by Brillini

Agreed. The transfer situation is where I'm turning my attention to now with this program. Here's to hoping the young guys make a connection with Groce and decide to stay.

If they don't, we could end up last in the B1G in the near future...I couldn't have ever even imagined a scenario that would have brought about so much frustration and disappointment over the past 6+ years back when I was sitting live watching our comeback win over AZ in '05.

Unfreakinbelievable...and yet here we are. Coach Groce will need our patience and some pull a rabbit out of your #$% recruiting to change quickly.

As much as I like Bruce as a person, he and his staff have genuinely botched up the momentum that could have been grasped following 2005, and leading into the 2013 and 2014 recruiting classes.

[AK Illini]

Can't wait to watch his career in the NBA

[BP3]

Come on guys! I'm ready for the league! Sheesh @ Dreamkillas