Six Players The Erie BayHawks Should Look At

4 of 7

Mar 22, 2013; Dayton, OH, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack forward C.J. Leslie plays defense against the Temple Owls during the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

C.J Leslie SF/PF

C.J Leslie is one of the most psychically gifted prospects I have ever seen. Standing at 6’9″ with a 7’2″ Wingspan and a 40″ max verticale, Leslie is a physical beast. While his physical tools are tantalizing, but he’s a somewhat frustrating player due to him being a “tweener.” Leslie is stuck in a spot where he is not strong enough to play the four and not skilled enough to play the three at the NBA level.

While his height may not jump off the charts, his length does and is a big reason Leslie could be a very dangerous defender. His long arms allow him to block shots with ease and allow him to pick ball handlers pockets. He is an effective slasher, has a decent face-up game and plays well out of the high post. Leslie excels at running the floor and finishes well in transition. His length and great hands make him an excellent target for lobs out of the pick-and-roll as well as in transition.

While Leslie has strengths that make him a very interesting player, he also has one glaring weakness: shooting. He shot a putrid 17 percent from deep last season, and was never known for his shooting while at North Carolina State. Add in being a “tweener” and you can see what is really holding him back from a spot on an NBA roster. He was brought in earlier this Summer by the Magic for a workout and could be a candidate for either a training camp invite, or as a draft prospect for the Erie BayHawks.

Stats Per 36 Minutes

Season Tm FG FGA FG% 3P% 2P 2PA 2P% FT% TRB STL BLK PTS 2013-14 TOT 6.9 14.7 .467 .167 6.6 13.0 .505 .655 8.8 1.3 1.1 18.5 2013-14 IDA 5.8 13.0 .448 .143 5.6 11.6 .483 .792 10.3 1.0 1.0 15.5 2013-14 ERI 7.1 15.1 .471 .171 6.8 13.3 .509 .636 8.4 1.4 1.2 19.1 Career 6.9 14.7 .467 .167 6.6 13.0 .505 .655 8.8 1.3 1.1 18.5