Leslee Smith

[Hooper]

I was pleasantly surprised by his performance in the video linked today. He needs some work, but I liked him better than I expected to. 

 

I also expected him to have a Caribbean or British accent being from the BVI, but he sounds like an American.

[Swan88]

I was pleasantly surprised by his performance in the video linked today. He needs some work, but I liked him better than I expected to. 

 

I also expected him to have a Caribbean or British accent being from the BVI, but he sounds like an American.

Yeah.  By the way . . . thanks, Polish Rifle, for posting the videos link--much appreciated!!

Based on the linked videos, Leslee shows that he can catch the ball, he can pass it and he can shoot it.  That's the Tim Miles list of top priorities in a recruit, we've been told.  Also, Leslee is a wide body who knows how to take advantage of it.

So . . . here's a thought:  Leslee is a better prospect than Atewe (except for the knee issue).  The videos of Matthew Atewe show that, when he got the ball in his hands and had to do anything other than immediately dunk it, he is a turnover waiting to happen.  Atewe is a great athlete, can play defense, and can block shots.  But he is a huge liability when the ball is in his hands and he is more than three feet from the basket.  Seriously.  Watch the Atewe videos.

[Silverbacked1]

Something that is interesting from Brian

 

Brian Rosenthal ‏@HuskerExtraBR 39m

#Nebrasketball recruit Leslee Smith picked things up over final 6 games, when he averaged 12.1 pts and 7.8 reb; season avg. were 8.3, 6.6.

[hugh42]

Something that is interesting from Brian

 

Brian Rosenthal ‏@HuskerExtraBR 39m

#Nebrasketball recruit Leslee Smith picked things up over final 6 games, when he averaged 12.1 pts and 7.8 reb; season avg. were 8.3, 6.6.

 

The guy doing play by play for the Hutch game mentioned that much of Seward County's success late in the season was due to Smith elevating his game (paraphrasing here), which is backed up by those stats.

[Silverbacked1]

Maybe it was because the Husker staff was there to watch him play and he wanted to show off his game.

[Rome4Lyfe]

Let's hope he develops a better motor when he gets to NU. Walks up the court to much. Looks like he has some Athleticism though, hopefully his knee will be fully healed by the time practice starts up as well! Welcome Les! ! !

[hhcmatt]

Smith also finished his SMU career on a high note

[GATA]

Lee B. has a solid article about Leslee that might shed some light on him...

 

http://bigredtoday.c...s-juco-prospect

[Norm Peterson]

I was pleasantly surprised by his performance in the video linked today. He needs some work, but I liked him better than I expected to. 

 

I also expected him to have a Caribbean or British accent being from the BVI, but he sounds like an American.

Yeah.  By the way . . . thanks, Polish Rifle, for posting the videos link--much appreciated!!

Based on the linked videos, Leslee shows that he can catch the ball, he can pass it and he can shoot it.  That's the Tim Miles list of top priorities in a recruit, we've been told.  Also, Leslee is a wide body who knows how to take advantage of it.

So . . . here's a thought:  Leslee is a better prospect than Atewe (except for the knee issue).  The videos of Matthew Atewe show that, when he got the ball in his hands and had to do anything other than immediately dunk it, he is a turnover waiting to happen.  Atewe is a great athlete, can play defense, and can block shots.  But he is a huge liability when the ball is in his hands and he is more than three feet from the basket.  Seriously.  Watch the Atewe videos.

Swan, I know this must have been very difficult for you to say.  This is a big step for you and I'm proud of you for it.    

[Swan88]

 

I was pleasantly surprised by his performance in the video linked today. He needs some work, but I liked him better than I expected to. 

 

I also expected him to have a Caribbean or British accent being from the BVI, but he sounds like an American.

Yeah.  By the way . . . thanks, Polish Rifle, for posting the videos link--much appreciated!!

Based on the linked videos, Leslee shows that he can catch the ball, he can pass it and he can shoot it.  That's the Tim Miles list of top priorities in a recruit, we've been told.  Also, Leslee is a wide body who knows how to take advantage of it.

So . . . here's a thought:  Leslee is a better prospect than Atewe (except for the knee issue).  The videos of Matthew Atewe show that, when he got the ball in his hands and had to do anything other than immediately dunk it, he is a turnover waiting to happen.  Atewe is a great athlete, can play defense, and can block shots.  But he is a huge liability when the ball is in his hands and he is more than three feet from the basket.  Seriously.  Watch the Atewe videos.

Swan, I know this must have been very difficult for you to say.  This is a big step for you and I'm proud of you for it.    

Hello.  My name is Swan.  . . .

Thanks for starting the therapy session, Norm.

[Hooper]

So . . . here's a thought:  Leslee is a better prospect than Atewe (except for the knee issue).  The videos of Matthew Atewe show that, when he got the ball in his hands and had to do anything other than immediately dunk it, he is a turnover waiting to happen.  Atewe is a great athlete, can play defense, and can block shots.  But he is a huge liability when the ball is in his hands and he is more than three feet from the basket.  Seriously.  Watch the Atewe videos.

 

I don't consider the knee issue to be a factor. ACL reconstruction is routine these days, and he's going to be two years out from surgery when he gets to Lincoln. Additionally, reconstructed ACLs tend to have a lower possibility of tearing than a normal ACL.

[Nebrasketballer]

Here's an excerpt from the Brian Rosenthal article in the Lincoln Journal Star:

 

While he was impressed with Nebraska’s facilities, Smith said he chose Nebraska because of Miles, and because he believes he’ll fit in perfectly with Miles' motion offense.

Something else Miles said caught Smith’s ear.

“He said if I don’t start, he’ll be upset, so there’s a really good opportunity for me to play right away and contribute,” Smith said. “That really stuck out to me. That’s something any player wants to hear from a coach, coming into their next school.”

 

 

Here's the rest of the story:

 

http://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/mens-basketball/junior-college-forward-chooses-nu/article_81a4feea-e2e4-53dd-b04e-f5ce5a1d5260.html

[Hooper]

I thought that quote about starting at the end was very interesting, but not surprising. He represents something we don't have on the current roster, which is what makes him very valuable. 

 

I have a good feeling about this guy. I feel we're getting a kid who's finally starting to mature mentally and who's finally understanding just how hard he has to work to succeed. It seems he's starting to shake his soft and lazy reputation. He definitely has the size and athleticism to play B1G basketball. There's no question about that, and I know that SCCC assistant coach from Nebraska feels his athleticism is light years ahead of Brandon Ubel's.

 

His JUCO coaches finally started to get better productivity and effort from him toward the end of the season. There's still a lot of room for improvement, but he's coming around. I have a feeling Craig Smith will do some great things with this guy over the next two years. I also really like what having Smith will allow us to do with Pitchford.

[Nebrasketballer]

I thought that quote about starting at the end was very interesting, but not surprising. He represents something we don't have on the current roster, which is what makes him very valuable. 

 

I have a good feeling about this guy. I feel we're getting a kid who's finally starting to mature mentally and who's finally understanding just how hard he has to work to succeed. It seems he's starting to shake his soft and lazy reputation. He definitely has the size and athleticism to play B1G basketball. There's no question about that, and I know that SCCC assistant coach from Nebraska feels his athleticism is light years ahead of Brandon Ubel's.

 

His JUCO coaches finally started to get better productivity and effort from him toward the end of the season. There's still a lot of room for improvement, but he's coming around. I have a feeling Craig Smith will do some great things with this guy over the next two years. I also really like what having Smith will allow us to do with Pitchford.

It will be nice to see what both Tai Webster and Leslee Smith can do when they are forced to play up to their potential and at a high level of effort, because they will be surrounded by players that are actually on their same level

[Silverbacked1]

Everybody that we bring in will always be ahead of Brandon Ubel athletically.

 

We just need them to be up to the standard he set for GATA.

[Red Rum]

Everybody that we bring in will always be ahead of Brandon Ubel athletically.

 

We just need them to be up to the standard he set for GATA.

 

And if they can match Ubel's heart we'll have something.

[Silverbacked1]

Yep, He did play hard, maybe not great but he did give a lot for the team.

[Nebrasketballer]

Everybody that we bring in will always be ahead of Brandon Ubel athletically.

 

We just need them to be up to the standard he set for GATA.

 

And if they can match Ubel's heart we'll have something.

This

[Nebrasketballer]

https://twitter.com/RobinWashut/status/324226339693547521">April

[Norm Peterson]

OK, thanks Robin.  Now, what about Sai?

[Nebrasketballer]

OK, thanks Robin.  Now, what about Sai?

Fingers Crossed!

[Silverbacked1]

Did the Fax machine at The Basketball Offices get used yet today?

 

Anybody hear yet?

[hhcmatt]

Did the Fax machine at The Basketball Offices get used yet today?

 

Anybody hear yet?

 

I'm standing next to the Brian Rosenthal twitter feed

[Silverbacked1]

Did the Fax machine at The Basketball Offices get used yet today?

 

Anybody hear yet?

 

I'm standing next to the Brian Rosenthal twitter feed

Dimes, dude you must be butter, because you're on a roll.

[Nebrasketballer]

https://twitter.com/robinwashut/status/324609340864606209