C.J. Leslie Dishes on Real Reason Why He Backed Out on N.C. State
Words. Jason Jordan
Super recruit who backed out of his N.C. State commitment now has his eye on UNC, Florida and Kentucky.
You’d be hard pressed to find another player with the freakish hops and never-ending motor of Word of God Academy (N.C.) forward C.J. Leslie. Whether it’s pinning an opposing player’s shot to the backboard or throwing down a tomahawk jam in heavy traffic, Leslie, rated the No. 12 prospect on the HighSchoolHoop Top 50, never wants for “oohs” from the crowd. But as much as Leslie loves the attention he gets for his amazing athletic abilities, he cringes at the notion that people only remember his high-wire act.
“I hate that,” says Leslie. “There is so much more to my game that just stuff.”
Leslie chatted with HighSchoolHoop about why his jump shot may now be the most memorable aspect of his game, his recent visit to North Carolina, and why he really backed out of his commitment to North Carolina State.
HighSchoolHoop: You visited North Carolina recently, right?
C.J. Leslie: Yes.
HSH: How did that go?
CL: It went real good. I had a chance to see the campus and everything like that and I played with the guys there. I really liked everything about the school.
HSH: Did you meet with North Carolina head coach Roy Williams?
CL: Yeah.
HSH: Did he offer you?
CL: Well, you know how Roy is … If I was planning to go ahead and commit now it would be fine. I told him I wasn’t ready to decide, and he said that he would just continue to recruit me. He said if I were in a hurry we could’ve went ahead and made this happen. But for now he said he’s just gonna keep on recruiting me.
HSH: What other schools are you considering?
CL: Arizona State, Florida, Maryland, Kentucky, Miami… I know I left a few off. The list is really long.
HSH: Let’s back up for a second - Why did you back out of your commitment to North Carolina State?
CL: Well, I felt like it was just too early. I really didn’t get to look anywhere else, and I wanted to go through the process. I wanted to make sure that it was the right situation for me.
HSH: Well, from our perspective, it looked like a situation where they were the first school to offer you and you got excited and pulled the trigger. Then your talent manifested and Raleigh just wasn’t big enough for you…
CL: (Laughs) You know a lot of people say that same thing. It would amaze you how often I hear that. I don’t even know who half of the people are that say that to me. I could just be walking down the street and someone will stop me and say, “You’re way too good to go to State.” It’s crazy.
HSH: I’m curious, did the overall lack of respect for the State program contribute to you de-commiting?
CL: I don’t know about that. I’m not gonna lie, it didn’t help the program to hear that stuff all the time. But it wasn’t a big affect. It had an affect, but it wasn’t a big affect.
HSH: Your athleticism is what you’re most known for, whether it’s putting someone on a poster or swatting someone’s shot out of bounds. But I wonder if you’re to the point where you don’t want that to be your only claim to fame?
CL: I definitely understand what you mean by that, and I do get a little offended when people just limit me to dunking or blocking someone’s shot. I can handle the ball and I’m a good passer, and right now I’m really shooting well. I know that I bring a lot more to the game than just athletic plays. But yeah I’ve thought about that before and I try and do a lot of different things out there to show people that I’m not just a one-dimensional player.
HSH: What’s something that you do well on the court that gets lost in all of your highlights?
CL: I would have to say shooting 3s.
HSH: I know you shot really well at the Tournament of Champions. What would you say your percentage has been from the 3-point line this AAU season?
CL: Somewhere near 45 percent. I’ve been shooting in really well. That’s definitely the biggest improvement in my game.
HSH: What’s your vertical leap?
CL: You know what, I’ve never done that before. I’m gonna have to get on that. People tell me a lot that I need to do it and I have no clue what it would be.
HSH: What’s your schedule for the rest of the summer?
CL: I’m doing the NBA Camp then I go to Vince Carter’s camp. After that, I’m gonna come back and have my birthday party. I’m looking forward to that.
HSH: Are you taking anymore visits?
CL: I think that I’m gonna go to Florida’s Elite Camp.
HSH: Do you have a timeline for when you want to get everything decided?
CL: At some point next fall. I like a lot of schools, but I’ve got to narrow it down.
HSH: Do you have any schools on your list that will definitely make the cut when you narrow it down?
CL: I can tell you Kentucky’s gonna be up there. I’m pretty sure that Carolina will be up there. The Gators will probably be up there too. That’s it for right now. I would say those three will definitely be on the list.
Photo. NewsObserver.com
Check out some video of C.J.’s ridiculous hops:
This kid sounds too full of himself. He’s drunk on his own kool-aid. I like how he called Coach Williams, Roy. Class act.
As a State fan, I’ll say two things:
1. Carolina, you can have CJ. He’s the next best thing — just ask him.
2. Jason, I’m not sure what someone associated with State did to you at some point, but it seems pretty clear after reading your interviews with Harrow and now Leslie that you have a pretty clear slant against the State program. You asked several leading questions of Leslie that almost forced him to speak negatively against the program so you could proclaim that Leslie “dished” to you the “real” reason why he decommitted. Leslie only took the bait somewhat. Stop trying to portray State in a negative light…all it does is make you look even less professional than you typically come across.
Good story JJ!
The kid is the truth, they way he plays and how hard he plays every second he’s on the court, he can b drunk on malasses and potato skins mixed with mad dog 20/20 4 all i care, as long as he respect the coaches and teammates, i’m cool!!
I’m sure he’s heard it before, but he reminds me of KG. He will eventually b one hell of a three in the league.
He’s a combo in college, he could easily b the number one small forward in his class if they choose to list him as one.
He has the game to back that statement up, u cant buy or hide what he’s got!!
One of the most bias sports articles I’ve seen in awhile. JJ jump off the tarheel train. Get a real job.
After reading your interview with Ryan Harrow and now this one with CJ Leslie, its obvious you guys have some kind of beef with NC State, so what gives. You guys are gonna lose credibility if it seems like your slanting the views of schools especially by adding leading questions to recruits.
Jason, I know “blogging” is considered more informal that traditional journalism, which is likely the reason (other than the fact that you are a nobody that can’t get a real sportswrtiting job) you were drawn to this amateur “profession”, however, could you at pretend to edit your work?
Could you read a book on interviewing, so you understand how to do it ethically and professionally?
Could you learn the difference between affect and effect?
Reading this drivel is like reading a slow fourth grader, it’s absurd. I know you feel this lame website is going to propel you to a real job (yeah, right) but you might want to at least try.
CJ may think he is too good for nc state but he is NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR UNC!!!!
We dont need any crybaby drama queens like CJ Leslie on our team…calling coach by his 1st name to a reporter!!!!
CJ: WE HAVE ENOUGH SF/PF GO SOMEWHERE ELSE “ROY” DOESNT NEED U OR HE WOULDVE OFFERED.
Jason Jordan, what is your beef with NC State? This is not good journalism. Your questions are baited and it’s apparent you’re trying to fuel some sort of soap-opera esque negativity.
Not a fan of this site, too biased.
NC State sucks….this kid knows it, the world knows it.
DLOL
good article. glad to see CJ wise up and decide not to waste his talents at NCSU.
“I can tell you kentucky’s gonna be up there” Me like the sound of that!! GO BIG BLUE (real blue not baby blue)
I’m also a little upset about this interview as a ncsu fan, but there is something wrong with this kid. He has all the tools but i can’t understand how he and his teamate john wall could loose 11 high school games this year. The greatest point guard and one of the best fowards in the nation and they can’t win their state championship. Maybe Raleigh is too big for him?
would there still be something wrong with him if he didnt back out? stop being bitter dude. He too good for your school.
No one is ever too good for a school. Greatness shows regardless. We wish him the best, wherever he chooses to go. Just like we still root for John Wall, because he’s still Raleigh’s own.
Backing out of a school because some cry baby tar heel fans got to him by badding his choice is not a good reason. He can go anywhere he wants for all I care, but I’m tired of the “NC State sucks” bullshit. They’ve had some rough seasons, but they have potential. No one’s “too good” to go to any school. Get the stick out of your bum.
Come on down CJ to Lexington to play with the Wildcats!!!!!!!!!!!!
he is a uk lock. mark it down
by the time Calamari gets thru with UK, you’ll only have a women’s team you’ll have so many violations.
If JJ is a UNC grad or a grad of any university, the first thing I’d do would be to revoke his diploma……..Reading that actually gives me warm and fuzzy’s for good ole Woody Durham…..Hint JJ, unless your interviewing for a job a Carolina Blue, you’ll never see the light of day beyond such a wonderous site as this. You actually make Don Callahan look good…Damn, that hurt to say
[...] is only going to be a sophomore, will be a beast in a couple years - Leslie is a freak athlete and could easily win MVP honors tonight. With John Wall gone, expect him to be one of the best players in the country. - Josh Selby [...]
You all have to stop crying about this NC State thing. The bottom line is this kid is way too good for NC State. You all sound like whiny NC State fans that are just mad because you lost your best player next year. Stop your bitchin’ and let CJ Lesie shine on an actual college basketball team. He is a lock for a 2011 NBA lottery pick. Im done..
Bill,
You are as retarded as the 8th grader that wrote this article. In fact, I’d be shocked if you weren’t in high school yourself. A lock for the lottery in 2011? Are you serious? Get a clue.
i dont even think i want him on unc’s bench, honestly. id much rather see him go to state than UK, the acc could use more top notch recruits, even though i HATE ncsux. alright leslie, if you wanna win while watching your back for your entire college career because of ncaa violations, go play for the scum we know as calipari. ncsu is on the rise, i believe, and you could be the one that helps spark the fire.
Wow, this is the most biased article i have ever read. And being a state fan that makes me especially upset. With that said, he is amazing but we have harrow and brown coming in, id love to see leslie but hey, you cant get them all. I think in the end he will go to state, because of his mother. Family is important to him and in every interview i have seen, his mother says “i want him to go to state”. Either way i wish him the best for he is Raleigh’s own.
Go Pack
Wow, this is one bias piece of journalism. Anyone who thinks that this kid is too good to go to NC State is pretty dumb. You have to look at the potential of next years class and say we can win an ACC Championship and compete in the NCAA’s in the coming years. This kid is just looking out for himself. He is going to be one and done, he knows we are not going to be a Championship contender next year and is looking else where. I have no problem not getting Leslie, the whole JJ Hickson thing did not work out for us and this looks eerily similar. A player looking to play for two or three years and wants to compete for a Championship has to look at NC State and say they have the pieces coming in to make that happen.