Ht/Wt: 6-9 / 205 lbs
Position: SF/PF
Team: NC State
Class: Junior

2013 Draft Profile - CJ Leslie

Leslie is somewhat of a polarizing prospect. He is an off the charts leaper who is blessed with freakish length. He has a reported 7'1" wingspan on a 6'9" frame, with ungodly jumping metrics. Leslie returned to the Wolfpack for his junior year, and it was a smart move. He is playing with more intensity this year and seems to be taking far fewer plays off. This was the big knock on him last year....a guy with a lazy game. Nobody ever questioned his elite athleticism.

On the defensive end Leslie's upside is just extraordinary. He already has shown the ability to completely alter games just through his defensive presence. He has great anticipation, will steal passes or alter shots every game. He can stay locked in on his man and utterly smother him. The problem is, at times he seems to forget the basics. He won’t close out or wont box out, or can just go to sleep and lose his man completely. Now, he is doing that less this season, but it's still an issue.

Offensively Leslie has a very limited game that relies on his superior athleticism. He has no shot, to put it kindly. None. He has no post up game. None. His numbers *are* improved this season, though, and partly this is the result of his not forcing impossible shots and waiting for teammates to create opportunities. Leslie finishes at the rim pretty effectively. Leslie also has trouble putting the ball on the floor too much. While he has shown improvement, he is far from a reliable ball handler. The question is going to be, can Leslie develop enough of a back to the basket game to be more than a spot defender or off the bench energy guy (who too often has displayed a lack of consistent energy)? He’s a tempting kid to consider for GMs because he has such natural physical ability. He has the kind of natural talent that is, in fact, quite rare. Reminds me a little bit of Bo Outlaw.
Player profile submitted by: John Steppling - Dec. 4th 2012



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2012 Draft Profile - CJ Leslie

C.J. Leslie stepped into the national spotlight this year by leading the North Carolina State Wolfpack to the Sweet 16. Listed at 6’8’’ and 209lbs, C.J. has the size to succeed at the next level. However, at only 209lbs, he lacks the muscle and strength to play in the post in the NBA. Although he demonstrates the ability to score in the post, his skill set is more suited to play SF.

In order to succeed at the next level, C.J. must improve his jump shot. He shot 54.2% from the free throw line in his freshman season and 59.6% his sophomore season. He still room for improvement in his jump shot and must improve this aspect of his game. To make up for his inconsistent jump shot, C.J. is an explosive athlete. This explosiveness allows him to score in the post and in transition. His athletic ability and explosiveness are so exceptional that it would not be surprising to see him win a slam-dunk contest. Additionally, he utilizes great foot speed, and positioning to score with his back to the basket. While he is an average ball-handler, he lacks court vision and passing ability. Thus, C.J. had a 0.5 A/T ratio last season.

Defensively, C.J. relies on his athletic ability and length. He averaged 2 blocks per 40 minutes last season. One of his strongest attributes is his rebounding. Despite his lack of strength, he averaged 10 rebounds per 40 minutes. C.J. also averaged an outstanding 2.2 offensive rebounds per game. He positions himself well after the shot is released and uses his athletic ability to grab the rebounds. For a player of his size, he also has natural instincts and quick hands, stealing 36 passes last season.
Player profile submitted by: Austin Rahmin

C.J. Leslie Videos

C.J. Leslie - NC State - Official Highlights - 2013 NBA Draft


C.J. Leslie Draft Combine Interview


C.J. Leslie Scouting Video


C.J. Leslie vs Duke (Full Highlights) [12.01.2013]







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