Illinois men’s basketball center Meyers Leonard will not be a part of the team next season.
The sophomore announced Monday evening that he will forgo his final two seasons with the Illini and declared for the NBA Draft.
“This was a very difficult decision because I love the University of Illinois,” Leonard said in a press release. “But I feel the timing is right for me to follow my dream of playing in the NBA and having the opportunity to provide for my mom and family.”
Leonard’s mom suffers from back problems, and her health was widely considered to be a determining factor on whether he would stay at Illinois.
The Robinson, Ill., native averaged 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a staple of the Illini offense down low. He fared well on the defensive end as well, averaging 1.9 blocks per game, which was the best in the Big Ten.
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Last summer, Leonard was a member of the USA’s U-19 squad, which competed at the 2011 FIBA World Championship in Latvia. He averaged 6.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
On March 19, Leonard and teammate Brandon Paul submitted their names to the NBA’s Undergraduate Advisory Committee to gauge interest from teams.
Paul has not announced whether he will stay, and the deadline to maintain collegiate eligibility is April 10.
The NBA Draft will take place June 28, and Leonard plans to finish the spring semester while preparing for it, according to a statement released by the team.
Last season, freshman Jereme Richmond left Illinois and declared for the NBA Draft, but after he missed team workouts leading up to the end, he was not selected.
Leonard is projected by many media outlets to be a top-20 pick in June and could find himself in the top 15.
In the statement, Leonard thanked the Orange and Blue and fans for their support.
“It starts with Coach Weber, who has always believed in me,” Leonard said. “He taught me so much about the game of basketball and helped me mature as both a player and a person. I will miss all my teammates; we’ve been through so much together, and I consider them my brothers.
“The future is bright here and under the direction of Coach Groce, I know they’ll be successful. Finally, I want to thank the fans for their incredible support. It was a dream come true to represent my state school and play at the Assembly Hall.
“I will always be an Illini.”
