A New Meyers Leonard

By LEROY BRIDGES

H&R Staff Writer

CHAMPAIGN — The line of critics on how Illinois big man Meyers Leonard handled his freshman year of college, surprisingly, has Leonard at the front.

The joke-first, get-jabs-in-second and be-serious later kind of guy might have gone through a life-changing couple months this summer — a complete transformation is uncertain at this point because the 7-footer from Robinson has been able to only talk about the new Leonard, not prove he’s different. Different from the guy who expected minutes to be handed to him when he showed up on campus. Different from the selfish player who didn’t value his body by not sleeping enough or spending extra time in the gym. Different from the freshman with an attitude.

“I almost thought I had already made it,” Leonard admitted last week before a practice for a 10-day trip toItalyin August. “Obviously, I didn’t really reach my expectations, you would say, for most people and for myself.”

With an unmemorable season of 8.2 minutes, 2.1 points and 1.2 rebounds behind him, Leonard started figuring it out in spring workouts. The USA Basketball U19 trials inColorado Springs,Colo., were nearing and Leonard realized it was time to stop expecting success and put in some work. A challenge from Illini coach Bruce Weber to “step up and be the guy,” along with Brandon Paul and D.J.Richardsonhelped, too.

He was plenty good enough to earn one of the 12 roster spots on the U19 team competing at the FIBA U19 World Championships inLatviafrom June 30-July 10.

“I was in here two or three times a day conditioning weights and taking shots,” Leonard said about his preparation for the trials. “I felt like I got a lot better.”

The overseas trip wasn’t all glitz, glamour and wins.

It began with a couple beat downs at the hands of Lithuania, first 101-72 then 108-75, that involved staying in some seedy hotels and five-hour trips to and from games. The team’s play improved, finishing 5-1 in tournament pool play, including a 107-105 revenge win against Lithuania, but the accommodations didn’t.

The team lived off peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips and granola bars.

“Matured a lot,” Leonard said about trip. “Understood how lucky I am to live inAmerica.”

He also got drilled on how to approach the game. Whether it was stretching, a basic drill, weight lifting, Leonard was repeatedly told to “be a pro.” The mantra came from George Mason coach Paul Hewitt and it struck a chord with Leonard, who’s projected in the first round of next year’s NBA Draft.

Granted, that means Leonard actually makes a difference on the floor this season for the Illini.

“I’ve made a complete turn-around, made a complete 180,” Leonard said. “I’m in the gym a lot more, caring about myself, just caring about everything a lot more and really trying to step up my game.

“Got my head on straight, I’m just ready for this year.”

Weber and the Illini need Leonard to be set for big-time minutes. With post mainstays Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale gone, Leonard, who’s now up to 7-foot-1, is the only real option at center. That’s unless Leonard proves he’s not ready again, and 6-foot-11 freshman Nnanna Egwu continues to play at a high level once Big Ten season rolls around.

What’s more likely is that Leonard and Egwu spend a good amount of time playing alongside each other, pushing one another. Leonard showed that’s doable at a recent practice in which he was all business as Weber instructed. What Weber saw was Leonard running the floor, as he did forUSAbasketball. It put a smile on his face, as the new Leonard has done for everyone who’s gotten glimpses.

“He did a couple post moves in practice the other day that got me excited,”Richardsonsaid. “It’s great to see that. With Meyers showing he can bang down low, it’s going to get the others to want to get down there and do that, too.”

Sounds a bit like leadership, something the new Leonard is ready to tackle.

lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in July 2011.