NC State's Leslie to return next season

North Carolina State University

NC State's Leslie to return next season

Apr 19, 2012

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Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina State forward Calvin Leslie will return to the Wolfpack for his junior season, he confirmed Wednesday.

"I still haven't reached the goals I wanted to reach," Leslie said Wednesday. "That's why I came back for another year. We started a good thing last year, I thought we might as well finish it."

The 6-foot-8 Leslie led NC State with 14.7 points per game while adding 7.3 rebounds per game in his sophomore year, picking up eight double-doubles along the way. Slideshow Our lens on CJ Leslie

Leslie requested a report from the NBA's underclassmen advisory committee in early April seeking estimates on where could be selected in the NBA draft. Head coach Mark Gottfried said at the time that he would let Leslie make the decision with his family and would not try to recruit him to stay.

Leslie said that he never actually read the NBA report and was leaning towards staying from very early on in the process.

The Holly Springs native averaged 16.5 points per game for the Wolfpack in the ACC and NCAA tournaments as NC State reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005 before falling to Kansas. He thinks next year's team has the potential to do even better.

"We're not planning on losing in anything," Leslie said. "We're gonna go out and try and win it all."

Leslie said that as part of his unreached goals, he needs to improve as a vocal leader and an on-court leader.

"I think I can improve on everything, what I did good and what I didn't do so well," Leslie said. "I have to step up and take on that role (as a leader). I think I am ready to take the team on my back."

NC State got confirmation from guard Lorenzo Brown a few weeks ago that he too would return for the Wolfpack. Leslie and Brown shared team MVP honors at the team banquet. More Info More NCSU Stories

Leslie was also a contributor as a freshman averaging 11 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Leslie’s announcement to return comes one week after the Wolfpack learned they would be losing forward DeShawn Painter and reserve guard Jaqwan Raymond, who each requested and were granted, their release from the program.

"DeShawn made the best decision for him and I wish him luck," Leslie said. "I played no part in his decision and he played no part in my decision."

NC State is also losing point guard CJ Williams and guard Alex Johnson next season to graduation.

NC State will get 7-foot-1 redshirt junior Jordan Vandenberg, who missed last season with a shoulder injury, back next season in a front-court that will include Leslie and Richard Howell. NC State will also bring in a recruiting class that has commitments from forward TJ Warren and guards Rodney Purvis and Tyler Lewis.

Leslie said that he considers Purvis a "little brother" and received nightly texts from the incoming freshman asking him to stay.

Web Editor: Aaron Schoonmaker

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RE: NC State's Leslie to return next season

As a State fan and alum, I am glad to see the Pack returning to the top in basketball. That said, I don't want my school to lose focus of the reason for their existence - academics. I do NOT want NCSU to turn into another Kentucky, etc. where academics is secondary to basketball. I would rather STate return to the bottom of the ACC than accept pathetic academics.

Keep the eye on the ball, State.
- Posted by Luv2Camp
Where is your proof or link that Kentucky does not care about academics. Have you seen the Grades of their players. Sometime people repeat statements that are not true. Kentucky and bad grades or no academics is one of them.
- Posted by yactfirst

John Wall was one and done. You just had the Kentucky starting 5 (3 freshmen and 2 sophomores) turn pro. The Kentucky program is nothing more than a pre-NBA temporary stop. School is just something the kids must do for a year until they go pro. In my view, such actions degrade the academic reputation of what might be an otherwise fine academic institution.
- Posted by Luv2Camp

Good you chose JW. Case to point You do not even know JW. If you did you or if you were to check into his grades while he was there you would see that he made the deans list. Also if you were to check in to his plans for finishing his education you would find that he is working towards that as well. Jw was predicted to be the nubmer one pick. He would have been crazy to turn that down. He can always go back to school and he made a promise to finish his education and graduate. 1st in the draft is a once in a life time and you can not just do that anytime.

RE: NC State's Leslie to return next season

Ever seen a badger do the happy dance?

WOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!

GO PACK!!!!
- Posted by TruthBKnown Left The Building

No, but your avatar has a sh!t eating grin on its face:)
- Posted by jgunn

Yes he does!

(Even moreso than usual!)

:)

RE: NC State's Leslie to return next season

As long as the car payments and apartment rent is being taken care of.......why not stay?

Roy is 18 and 1 vs. State and the "1" won't change.
- Posted by TruthaboutStatefans

Car payments??? Someone loaned him a car for a week while his was in the shop for repairs. So now it has morphed to car payments???

Silly little misguided tarhole.

RE: NC State's Leslie to return next season

Ever seen a badger do the happy dance?

WOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!

GO PACK!!!!
- Posted by TruthBKnown Left The Building

But you told us just a week or so ago that it means nothing until the 29th....
- Posted by heelsforever

If you want to believe he's going to announce this after all the waiting, and then change his mind by the 29th, well you just go ahead on and believe it.

I still say there's a chance McAdoo could still jump. He's projected MUCH higher than Calvin was. Those dollar signs are bouncing around inside his head.

RE: NC State's Leslie to return next season

Hey Badger, wasn't there a Avatar bet on this decision? Seems like someone is supposed to be sporting a State logo now???

Good decision Calvin, I would have supported you either way, but better to wait until you know the money is going to be right!
- Posted by 78FJ40

We never could agree on terms. Lucky for the nutz! :)

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