C.J. Leslie Was Smart To Stay One More Year

Sometimes staying in place can do wonders for your confidence. After having the opportunity to bounce to the League after his debut season, C.J. Leslie made the right choice by returning to the Wolfpack and honing his skills for another year. The improvement is more than evident at the NC Pro-Am, especially in terms of his outside jumpshot.

C.J. has always been known as a freak athlete with a deadly first step, the Holly Springs, NC native has more than held his own against some top competition in the pro am. Last week C.J. was matched up with Pistons big man Chris Wilcox and definitely got the best of him. The 20-year-old’s first step was too much for the nine-year NBA vet and gave fans a dose of reality in terms of how quick he truly is.

His first step will be a problem for most defenders, but don’t get it twisted, Leslie is still very rough around the edges and has a ton of work to do (especially in terms of ball handling, strength, and decision making), but has NBA lottery potential written all over him.

C.J. has shown great strides and once he gets the strength factor down, I can see all star potential all over him. The good thing for him right now is that the ACC is so loaded with talent, all he has to do is be dominant game in and game out and everyone will notice. You can’t question the talent that he will be facing this season. If all goes as it appears that it will, you can take it to the bank, Leslie is a lottery pick

The North Carolina Pro Am Is Back: Get Ready To Be Entertained

Today’s post has local flavor. July 1, marks the beginning of the Pro/Am Basketball League sponsored by Jerry Stackhouse. The league should be action packed as always and word on the street is that Austin Rivers is on a roster and we get to witness the top talent in the country put his arsenal on display.

This year there is a new twist as the games will still be played at North Carolina Central University, but because they are now a fully accredited division one university, no high school males will be allowed to participate. The major twist this year is that a women’s league has been added as well.

My first look at a couple of the rosters has me excited to see if many of these athletes are going to show up and participate. With the impending NBA lockout and lack of a summer league, this sanctioned league may be the only avenue for a lot of stars to keep their games in good shape.  I saw a roster that had John Wall and Javale McGee on it.  Other big names on rosters included Kevin Durant, Raymond Felton, Danny Green, Kyle Singler, Chris Duhon, C.J. Leslie, Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall, and Reggie Bullock.

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