Leslie recommits to NC State for 2010, says Wolfpack can be ‘great’

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And there you have it. CJ Leslie will be a member of the Wolfpack in 2010. Both Pack Pride and the Wolfpacker are reporting the commitment as well as WRAL Sports Fan.

Pack Pride Link

This comes on the heels of the N&O’s report this morning about Leslie committing within the next couple of days. Leslie’s commitment makes NC State’s recruiting class a top 10 class without question and makes it possibly a top 5 class nationally. Leslie, the No. 3 power forward propsect according to Scout.com, should make an instant impact on the Wolfpack lineup.

Check back later for much more on this.

Here’s some other reports on Leslie’s verbal commitment. Also, go here to listen to Julius Hodge’s reaction to CJ Leslie’s decision.

PackPride: Confirmation from Leslie

NC State picked up a huge commitment today when Raleigh (NC) Word of God standout forward C.J. Leslie verbally committed to head coach Sidney Lowe.

“I just committed back to NC State,” said Leslie’ “I committed to coach Lowe today on campus, and he and the other coaches were all real happy.

“I wanted to see what else was out there and that’s something I did. At the end I felt like it was the right situation for me to be in.”

WRAL: Leslie picks NC State

NC State picked up a huge commitment today when Raleigh (NC) Word of God standout forward C.J. Leslie has verbally committed to the Wolfpack.

Leslie chose NC State over offers from Kentucky and UCONN among others. He is rated a five-star prospect and the No. 3 power forward in the country by Scout.com.

N&O: Leslie picks NC State

N.C. State landed one of its most noteworthy recruits of the Coach Sidney Lowe era on Wednesday afternoon when C.J. Leslie of Raleigh Word of God, one of the top dozen rated senior prospects in the country, committed to the Wolfpack.

“I’m going to N.C. State,” Leslie said. “It is a great school and we can be good there. And obviously, Coach Lowe is a great coach.”

Leslie, a 6-foot-8 basketball forward, picked State over Kentucky and Connecticut.

Leslie said Wednesday morning that he was undecided with Kentucky and Connecticut still in the the picture, but he decided during the day that he was sure he wanted to run with the Wolfpack.

“It was really up for grabs,” he said. “It was really close with the other two schools.”

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80 Responses to Leslie recommits to NC State for 2010, says Wolfpack can be ‘great’

  1. Thinkpack17 04/28/2010 at 12:28 PM #

    This would be a tough loss for Ol’ Sid. Best of luck to you buddy.

  2. Justin Gainey 04/28/2010 at 12:33 PM #

    I hope Lesley does the right thing and come to State. I wouldn’t even be angry if he went to UCONN, however seems unlikely. Just don’t go to Kentucky. Damn Cal is a sleezball and now with this World Wide Wes thing, it looks even more doubtful. There has got to be something done about this guy. It is starting to get rediculous. Now with Kentucky, he has more money, connections and booster members that can make sure anything illegal gets swept under the rug. It’s not even fun anymore. I mean look at how much he is pushing to get Bledsoe out of there. They keep saying Bledsoe is declaring, although Bledsoe keeps saying he has not made a decision yet. He is ruining college basketball.

  3. Ed89 04/28/2010 at 1:08 PM #

    ^^He is ruining college basketball.

    Agreed. Amazing how a coach can only watch a recruit or text a recruit a certain amount of times, but he can have famous players “entertain” a recruit as much as he’d like. The NCAA is a bunch of hypocrites. It’s like having Merrill Lynch or AIG oversee the SEC.

  4. coach13 04/28/2010 at 1:09 PM #

    I am not a Sid cheerleader, but he has done a good job to get who he has and be in the running for CJL. If Leslie goes to Kentucky, it’d be hard to blame Sid. It’s an uphill battle and to make it this far, he has to be throwing every sales pitch he has at him.

    I say that because I read blogs outside of Kentucky and Wolfpack fans, who seem to think is laughable CJL would choose us over Kentucky…good effort, hope he comes.

  5. Pack Leader 04/28/2010 at 1:10 PM #

    If he burns Sid, lets hope hes got a YMCA membership because THERE AINT NO WAY he will keep practicing with our players in Dail if hes already commited to go somewhere else!

  6. sbas2 04/28/2010 at 1:16 PM #

    i have read more than once that Leslie has spent an inordinate amount of time practicing and playing at the Dial practice facility. i don’t know about anyone else, but i have a real issue with a player making use of State’s facilities and then attending another school. i realize it is in Lowe’s favor to have a player do that if that player could possibly come to State, but at some point a player needs to stop using a school’s facilities if the player isn’t planing on attending that school. now, this situation may be so common that its no issue, but until i read that this is the case, i will maintain my position.

  7. Justin Gainey 04/28/2010 at 1:18 PM #

    “THERE AINT NO WAY he will keep practicing with our players in Dail”

    This is another reason why I think he might have held out so long. If he would have already commited to Kentcuky, he would be playing at the Y. Stretch his decision out a bit and he can practice playing ball against ACC college players. It sux, but smart at the sametime. If he does commit to Kentucky, I surely hope they do not let him back in there. Even if they do, i don’t think our players will play bball with him. They probably will feel betrayed and used. CJL seems like a good person, i don’t think he would do that. But, ya never know

  8. Ed89 04/28/2010 at 1:20 PM #

    Not sure why these players now think they have to go to UNC, Kansas, Duke, or Kentucky to be successful NBA players. Of the current NBA “stars” few went to those “big-time” college programs. Most went straight to the NBA, Wade went to Marquette, Anthony to Syracuse, on and on. It’s debatable whether it may help you “get” to the NBA, but it won’t help you become a star NBA player. Of those, I’d say UNC has the best track record, but other than Jordan, most have underachieved in the NBA.

  9. PoppaJohn 04/28/2010 at 1:26 PM #

    CJ, you’ll get all the press and TV exposure you want right here in Raleigh-wood. The team is ready to excel, you’ll just bring some icing.
    You know you love us! Come be a Wolfpacker!

    GO PACK!

  10. Justin Gainey 04/28/2010 at 1:31 PM #

    Can you imagine the amount of pressure he will have on announcement day. It just dawned on me that he will be announcing in Raleigh! WOW, talking about being a tough crowd. I hope for alls sake it is a Wolfpack hat he puts on his head!!

  11. phillypacker 04/28/2010 at 1:54 PM #

    How in the world could this still be up for grabs? He knows exactly where he is going. He’s been “trying on” playing for State for a good long time now. He’s either trying to see if he can warm up to State so he can make sure Kentucky is the right choice with no reservations or he’s really wanting to pick State and trying to wrap his mind around turning down Kentucky and Sleazeball. CJ, turn toward the light. We have got your back so much we’re practically attached. Come home, CJ, come home.

  13. Alpha Wolf 04/28/2010 at 3:42 PM #

    The NCAA is a bunch of hypocrites. It’s like having Merrill Lynch or AIG oversee the SEC.

    They don’t?

    Seriously, the NCAA is going to do nothing whatsoever to hurt one of its flagship franchises in it multi-billion dollar industry called college basketball.

    Look at USC in football. We’re still waiting for them to do something about the shenanigans that went on with Reggie Bush. Or Ohio State and Maurice Clarett.

  14. GoldenChain 04/28/2010 at 3:44 PM #

    “Right now, it’s up for grabs,” Leslie said. “I don’t know. But it’s time to make a decision. I have all the information that I need.”

    Yep CJ, I’d say that’s right, but it was probably right 3 months ago. I hope Justin isn’t right about Dial but I’ve been saying he isn’t coming here all along…..always a bride’s maid never a bride.

  15. newt 04/28/2010 at 3:44 PM #

    I think “saga” is a bit melodramatic. State fans would probably do well to relax a bit when it comes to high school recruits and their decisionmaking process, IMHO.

  16. Ed89 04/28/2010 at 3:47 PM #

    ^^Seriously, the NCAA is going to do nothing whatsoever to hurt one of its flagship franchises in it multi-billion dollar industry called college basketball.

    You got it, Alpha. That being said, I think CJL choses State. We’ve got the hungriest fans in the nation.

  17. packbackr04 04/28/2010 at 3:54 PM #

    that fake Calipari facebook post is hilarious. i bet Marquis Teague feels like an idiot for responding, and responding honestly at that. Cal is dirty, but he wins.

  18. nav 04/28/2010 at 4:10 PM #

    that link was fuunnnnnnny.

  19. old13 04/28/2010 at 4:35 PM #

    TWP reports Leslie to the Pack!

    http://www.ncstate.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?ReturnTo=&sid=&script=content.asp&cid=1079456&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid=

    There’s also a premium thread on PP stating in the title that CJL has committed.

  20. packbackr04 04/28/2010 at 4:43 PM #

    alright! great news. is this confrimed?

  21. packbackr04 04/28/2010 at 4:45 PM #

    can he sign today? no deal is done until the ink is dry! great commitment for the pack.

  22. ncsu96 04/28/2010 at 4:50 PM #

    somebody get him a pen stat!

  23. gcpack 04/28/2010 at 4:51 PM #

    99.9 the fan just reported that the wolfpacker has stated the Leslie has announced for State!!!

  24. PackMan97 04/28/2010 at 4:52 PM #

    Re: Practicing at Dial

    Even if he doesn’t pick the Pack, I’d still like to see him practice with our guys. Let’s face it, CJ is a man-child. The more our post guys play against thim, the better they will get and that’s what is important here. Making NC State better.

    Would we be better with Leslie? HECK YA! But we’ll also be better if our guys have a chance to practice against Leslie even if in that process we help make him better for some other team.

    NC State needs to focus all of our efforts on making NC State better. If that means playing against recruits for another school, so be it.

    Do you think replacing Leslie with someone else will lead to better games for our guys? Not hardly.

  25. PackMan97 04/28/2010 at 4:55 PM #

    haha…so much for my ill timed rant 🙂

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