GortTheRobot
- North Bethesda, Maryland
Thank you Leron, for everything. Growth as a player and a person...can't ask for much more.
Leron Black to pursue professional career
I, too, understand about the first one feeling odd, and the second option would be even more odd!
Yeah, anybody that says this isn't the right decision for Leron is being selfish. He's not getting drafted to the NBA due to his combination of height and playing style not being a match for the league. If he were 6'10" I think he would be a first round pick (but then again, if I were 6'10" I would've worked a lot harder at basketball also), but he's not, so I think this move as an extra year to his professional playing career and maximizes his lifetime earnings from the game. Best of luck to Leron.
Exactly right. The move makes sense for Leron, but really puts next year's team in a major bind. That however, is not Black's problem. It's Underwood's....
Wish you nothing but the best Leron. Been fun watching you play!
We need him. He obviously doesn’t need another year because someone is willing to pay him to play basketball and work on basketball. I know this shocks some, but pro players still actually work at getting better.
He’s not leaving early. He’s been here for 4 years and has a degree. As far as leaving early for a non nba career, it happens. Think about guys who leave early for the league and don’t make it. Or international guys who go back to Europe to get paid.
LB would not be a 1st round pick if he stayed at IL.
Not an NBA player. Maybe several yrs down the road if he improves drastically.
Good luck to him overseas. Could be a great life experience.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Nah. We'll still probably be ahead of Rutgers at least.
They have to get a 5th year Forward like Caroline or Daum, that come in as a go to known scorer. Absent that, the same pick would be bottom 3 for sure.
There is still opportunity to get some guys that will change that, but with 6 or 7 new pieces, it will be tough sledding.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
If his goal is the NBA then this is a mistake. If his goal is to get a paycheck for playing basketball then this makes sense for him. I hope for the best for him and thank him for a great effort over the years.
BlindLoyalty
- FartNoiseMotivation
Has any Illini player ever been a member of teams that missed 5 straight NCAA tournaments?
By that do you mean Illini players seeking pro careers and developing into quality human beings? If so, I hope it never does.
AEX
- Danger Zone
This is semantics. He's leaving early in that he has eligibility left. As for your other points, typically when guys leave early for the league and don't make it, most chalk that up to a mistake or there was obviously beef between said player and the coaching staff. And going back home to Europe is again a different situation with its own logic to it.
Many of the posters assume Leron is recognizing that he has no shot at the NBA and has settled his sights on a career in Europe for good if not gaudy coin. That's a very mature decision, if true, and one I would imagine is based on a lot of advice and careful consideration. Even so, I'm surprised to see a young man of his talents forego (supposedly) his best shot at the NBA to make some coin next year. Surprised not because it's illogical but because it seems that this decision is not very common for players with eligibility left who are the focal point of their team's offense, who have a positive relationship with their coaching staff, and who appear to be developing under that coaching staff, but who are not yet a sure bet for getting drafted.
Seems to me there are hundreds upon hundreds of young men in that very situation and that the vast majority stay at their school until they run out of eligibility. Right? Maybe it happens more often then I think, which is why I asked, but you just don't hear about guys with eligibility left to burn deciding instead to get a head start on their Euro career.
Deleted member 547530
D
Guest
Smart move. Why risk getting an injury next year at UI and completely taking away the opportunity to play professionally. I wish him all the best. He has overcome a lot of obstacles, and handled it like a champ. Go make some money and enjoy life with your soon to be new bride.
I’m pretty sure I know which one pays better...
You mean will he get better practicing/playing vs pros with unlimited time to work on his craft? Yeah it’s hard to answer.
Best of luck to Leron. I would have liked to see him honored on Senior Night.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
My thoughts exactly....
Peoria Illini
- Peoria, IL
If his goal is the NBA, then this is the correct move. He's not going to the NBA straight off of another year at Illinois, and he knows that. His best way to get to the NBA is a few years development in foreign leagues and then trying to land in the NBA from there, ala Brandon Paul.
The filling out of rosters in the NBA is making a shift to players with foreign league experience. Anthony Parker from Bradley was one of the first ones a few years back to come back to the States after playing overseas.
Illini_1979
- Oregon
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
I'll certainly miss Leron and the team will as well.
But I'm happy for him that he has a degree, a fiancee and a goal.
Those are hallmarks of a successful college experience.
Best of luck to you, Leron
But I'm happy for him that he has a degree, a fiancee and a goal.
Those are hallmarks of a successful college experience.
Best of luck to you, Leron
