2012 NBA Draft Fashion: Meyers Leonard Gets An 'F' For Fashion

Former Illinois Fighting Illini center Meyers Leonard accomplished his pre-draft goal of working his way into the lottery pick range for the 2012 NBA Draft, but he didn't exactly prepare for the moment in terms of his fashion. When the Portland Trail Blazers selected Leonard with the No. 11 pick in the draft, the 20-year-old big man stepped on stage to shake David Stern's hand and don his Blazers cap, but he didn't quite look right to Tom Ziller of SB Nation. Ziller put together a full 2012 NBA Draft Fashion recap, and Leonard ranked dead last out of 16 players for his questionable ensemble:

What in the Heavens is going on here? Bomani Jones' sleeper pick came through strong with a tablecloth, tight-collar shirt, a mismatched loud red tie, a confused open jacket and origami poking out of his pocket. It's not quite Wesley Johnson, but it's just not right. At all.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For additional news, notes and analysis of the 2012 draft, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft Results: Meyers Leonard Taken By Portland Trail Blazers At No. 11

Most projections had Illinois center Meyers Leonard going in the lottery portion of the draft, which is exactly what happened -- Leonard was taken by the Portland Trail Blazers with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Related: 2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard Interview With Craig Sager

Leonard was a solid contributor at Illinois but never a start player -- as a sophomore during the 2011-12 season, Leonard averaged 13.6 points and 8.2 points per game. He played sparingly as a freshman.

Since he decided to turn pro and started working out for NBA teams, though, he began to work his way up draft boards across the league and became a bona fide lottery prospect.

Earlier in the draft, the Trail Blazers selected point guard Damian Lillard.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For additional news, notes and analysis of the 2012 draft, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard Interview With Craig Sager

Once considered a mid-level NBA prospect, C Meyers Leonard of the Illinois Fighting Illini has shot up many draft boards across the league. After an impressive sophomore season at Illinois, Leonard decided to enter the 2012 NBA Draft, in part to help support his mother, who suffers from certain medical issues.

Leonard recently sat down with TNT's Craig Sager to talk life, basketball and everything in between. Asked what has helped him to improve, to move up so many draft projections, Leonard credited his rigorous workout regiment and his older brother:

He's been a great influence on my life; very hard worker; very respectable... [He] did two terms in Afghanistan. He's tough as nail. And he's always taught me to be a good young man.

And when asked what helped motivate him to enter the draft after just his sophomore season, Leonard said both his mother's condition as well as firing of head coach Bruce Weber helped push him towards the pros:

With Coach Weber being fired -- I committed [to Illinois] my sophomore summer, going into my junior year [in high school] -- so I have a very good relationship with him; he'll be at my Green Room table.

The 2012 NBA Draft begins Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. CDT, broadcast live on ESPN.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Meyers Leonard Lands At Pick No. 12 In Latest Mock

The latest and last mock draft from ESPN's Chad Ford has Illinois Fighting Illini product C Meyers Leonard headed to the Houston Rockets at No. 12. Well, sort of.

According to Ford, all signs are pointing towards the Rockets trading their No. 12 selection, but if they do indeed hang onto the pick, Leonard should be their man:

Analysis: ...I seriously doubt the Rockets will actually be selecting here on draft night. However, if they do, I think they'll take the best big man available. Leonard may be a project, but there's upside here and the team really doesn't have anything in the middle.

Trade Scenarios: The Rockets are trying to package picks 12, 16 and 18 and Kyle Lowry to get multiple top-10 picks to offer to the Magic for Dwight Howard. The Warriors, at No. 7, could be a serious target with this pick.

Rockets' Big Board:
1. Tyler Zeller
2. Meyers Leonard
3. Perry Jones
4. Moe Harkless

Leonard also appears on the Milwaukee Bucks' big board at pick No. 14, so if Leonard does not land with either the Magic or the Rockets here, Milwaukee may be his ultimate destination.

The 2012 NBA Draft begins Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. CDT.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard Speaks With The Media

Expectations are running high for the Illinois Fighting Illini product, C Meyers Leonard. On Thursday, he sat down with the media to discuss the draft, his impressions on various NBA players and what he plans to do with his first paycheck. Check out the video, courtesy of NBA Draft Express:

Leonard, who played two seasons with the Illini, is expected to go anywhere from No. 11 to No. 16 in the upcoming 2012 NBA Draft, but Leonard himself could see even more possibilities developing:

I think Detroit at 9 is a possibility; New Orleans quite possibly at 10, if they want to mix up and quite possibly start a new front court with Anthony Davis and I. Portland, depending where they go at 6, then that changes [whether or not they want a big man at No. 11]. And then Milwaukee at 12, I had a good time there; I felt like that was pretty good fit. I did go to Phoenix, and I enjoyed that as well -- at 13.

When asked what he wanted to buy with his first paycheck, he said:

Take care of my mom... Get her into an orthopedic surgeon; a good doctor that can give her some help.

The 2012 NBA Draft begins on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. CDT.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Meyers Leonard Projected To Go No. 14 To Milwaukee Bucks

Tonight is the night Meyers Leonard has been waiting months for. The 2012 NBA Draft gets underway in New Jersey on Thursday at 6:00 p.m., with the former Illinois Fighting Illini center projected as a potential lottery pick. Leonard is thought to be in play as high as the No. 9 pick to the Detroit Pistons. A new mock from NBADraft.net has Leonard going No. 14 to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Related: 2012 NBA Mock Draft: David Aldridge Sees Meyers Leonard To Portland

Leonard is perceived to be one of the players with the highest upside in the draft due to the rare athleticism he possesses for a 7-footer. Illinois struggled at times to get the ball to Leonard down low last season, so despite solid per game numbers (13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds per game), the center is still considered very raw.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft: This Nasty High School Dunk Is A Reminder Of Why Meyers Leonard Will Be A Lottery Pick

2012 NBA Mock Draft: David Aldridge Sees Meyers Leonard To Portland

With their recent emergence as a possible fit, NBA.com's David Aldridge sees the Portland Trail Blazers nabbing Illinois center Meyers Leonard with the No. 11 overall pick in his mock draft. Without much time before the draft, Aldridge thinks the Blazers could look for a new center of the future:

The Blazers start the post-Oden era by taking one of the most athletic bigs available in the Draft. Leonard's shooting performance at the Chicago pre-Draft camp earlier this month removed enough doubts about his hubris to make him a lottery pick.

The aforementioned Greg Oden was supposed to be anchoring Portland's frontline by now, but instead he's on the fringe of being out of the league completely after a variety of injuries. Leonard can't match the upside that Oden had coming out of school back in 2007, but he certainly has the potential to be the starting center that Oden could never be.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Bucks Get Meyers Leonard In Sam Amick's Latest

One day before the draft, Illinois center Meyers Leonard goes to the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 12 overall pick in the latest mock draft from Sam Amick of SI.com. The Bucks are a team that could badly use some size, and it appears that they'll be targeting big men in Thursday's draft:

The Bucks are expected to fill the void left by center Andrew Bogut after he was traded to Golden State last season, but they could go any number of ways. The athletic and fast-improving Leonard has shot up most teams' boards in recent weeks, including consideration from Detroit at No. 9. Milwaukee is known to be high on Terrence Jones and [John] Henson as well.

Beyond Detroit, Amick also writes that the Portland Trail Blazers are considering Leonard with the No. 11 pick. At this point, it's possible that Milwaukee is the floor for where Leonard goes in the draft, depending on where other big men like Jones and Henson go.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Meyers Leonard Goes No. 11 To Trail Blazers In Newest CBS Sports Projection

After months of speculation, former Illinois Fighting Illini center Meyers Leonard will finally learn where he'll begin his pro career during Thursday's 2012 NBA Draft. The majority of mock drafts have had Leonard between the ninth pick and the 20th pick, and the latest effort from Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports has the 7-footer going at the high-end of those projections. Goodman believes Leonard will be selected just outside the top 10, with the center getting snatched up by the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 11.

Related: 2012 NBA Mock Draft: Draft Express Has Meyers Leonard At No. 16 To Houston Rockets

He'd fit perfectly up front with LaMarcus Aldridge. He's a legit 7-footer with freak athleticism and an incredible upside.

As a sophomore at Illinois, Leonard averaged 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Meyers Leonard Goes To Bucks In Latest Mock Draft

Chad Ford has released his latest mock draft rendition -- Mock Draft 9.2 -- and his most recent prognostications suggest C Meyers Leonard of Illinois will land with the Milwaukee Bucks:

No. 12 -- Milwaukee Bucks: C Meyers Leonard

Analysis: The Bucks are hoping that a big man will still be on the board at No. 12. Under this scenario they get their wish. Leonard may be a bit of a project, but he's got NBA size and athleticism and he plays pretty hard. Terrence Ross is also a possibility here.

The 7-foot-1 center played two seasons with the Illinois Fighting Illini, but spent only his sophomore season as a starter. Here is a look at his stats from the 2011-12 NCAA basketball season:

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard Gets Invited To Green Room

Illinois center Meyers Leonard has been invited to attend the 2012 NBA Draft and sit in the green room. As Draft Express' Jonathan Givony notes below, that's a strong indication that Leonard is going to be selected in the first 20 picks or so. Leonard's stock has risen significantly since he declared for the pros and started workouts with NBA teams.

Green Room Invites: Davis, Robinson, Beal, Kidd Gilchrist, Barnes, Lillard, Waiters, Lamb, Drummond, Rivers, Henson, Zeller, Leonard.

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 25, 2012

Related: 2012 NBA Mock Draft: Draft Express Has Meyers Leonard At No. 16 To Houston Rockets

The NBA goes to great lengths to avoid a player sitting in the Green Room well into the 20s, and tend to err on the side of caution here.

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 25, 2012

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Draft Express Has Meyers Leonard At No. 16 To Houston Rockets

Former Illinois Fighting Illini center Meyers Leonard is said to be one of the hottest names in Thursday's 2012 NBA Draft. Leonard has gone as high as No. 9 to the Detroit Pistons in some mocks, but the latest from Draft Express has the center slipping to the Houston Rockets at pick No. 16.

Related: 2012 NBA Mock Draft Meta-Analysis, Vol. 3: Rumors Sully Sullinger

Here's what DX had to say about Leonard and Houston:

Meyers Leonard: C, 20, 7-1, 250, Illinois, Soph.

This pick is widely assumed to be in play, as the Rockets have a number of young prospects on their roster and may not be looking to bring two more rookies into the fold. Regardless of whether it's Houston making the pick, Meyers Leonard is a safe bet to come off the board at this stage. He's too big, talented and athletic to fall much further, and the Rockets can afford to be patient with him as his frame fills out and his feel for the game improves.

Houston acquired the pick from the New York Knicks. For what it's worth, Draft Express has the Pistons going with North Carolina power forward John Henson with the ninth pick.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

NBA Draft Rumors: Meyers Leonard, Tyler Zeller Are Tier 4 Prospects On ESPN Draft Rankings

Meyers Leonard, Tyler Zeller and John Henson have been locked in a battle to become the next big man prospect to come off the board after Anthony Davis and (likely) Andre Drummond get snatched up in the 2012 NBA Draft, so how have workouts and combine measurements affected their overall draft stock?

Chad Ford of ESPN has complied his NBA Draft Tier Rankings as a way to sort through the best available players in the draft, but Leonard, Zeller and Henson all land in the nebulous Tier 4 category. Anthony Davis is alone in Tier 1 (franchise players), and Drummond fits in with Damian Lillard and Dion Waiters in Tier 3 (consensus top-10 picks), but Tier 4 is where prospects that fail to create consensus fall. That essentially means Leonard, Zeller and Henson could go anywhere from the mid-lottery to the back half of the first-round.

In SB Nation Chicago's comprehensive 2012 NBA Mock Draft Meta-Analysis, Vol. 3, Leonard is the No. 11 overall prospect on draft boards, while Henson falls in at No. 12 and Zeller is close behind at No. 13.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Meyers Leonard Goes No. 9 To Detroit In SI.com's Latest

Illinois center Meyers Leonard goes to the Detroit Pistons with the ninth overall pick in the latest mock draft from Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated. Once considered a late first round pick, Leonard has emerged as a possible top-10 selection after impressing teams during workouts over the past few weeks.

Leonard could potentially give Detroit an impressive pairing in the post with Greg Monroe, as Amick writes:

The Pistons have been looking at the possibility of pairing emerging center Greg Monroe with North Carolina shot-blocker John Henson, but Leonard could provide a combination of interior scoring and defensive presence that they covet. Leonard's shot-blocking numbers aren't as impressive as Henson's, but the Illinois 7-footer's size and athleticism are intriguing to Detroit and he's been on the rise leaguewide for quite a while now.

Amick also notes that the Pistons are still considering two other big men, North Carolina's Tyler Zeller and Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: Meyers Leonard Goes No. 12 In Chad Ford's Mock 8.0 At ESPN

The Milwaukee Bucks have been linked to Illinois big man Meyers Leonard plenty of times over the past few weeks, and as the 2012 NBA Draft approaches the connections are only getting stronger. A vast network of mock drafts from around the internet have tied Leonard to the Bucks at No. 12, and at ESPN the prediction has been perpetuated in Chad Ford's NBA Mock Draft 8.0. He projected the Bucks to take the 20-year-old center in his version 7.0 as well, and he sticks with the pick in version 8.0 because Leonard has size and athletic ability to become a dominant big man.

Tyler Zeller, the other center Leonard has been competing with to land in the lottery, is headed to the Houston Rockets at No. 14, while Syracuse big man Fab Melo jumped up to No. 18 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard Looks Awful In ESPN's Hollinger Draft Rater

Meyers Leonard has turned himself into a hot 2012 NBA Draft prospect with some great workouts and interviews, but the numbers certainly don't stack up in his favor. The former Illinois big man will almost certainly be taken with a lottery pick on draft night -- he is projected to end up with the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 12 in current mock drafts -- but some are skeptical about his ability to produce in the NBA.

John Hollinger's Draft Rater on ESPN is a model designed to predict the Player Efficiency Rating (PER) for the rookie class each year, and in the current iteration Leonard looks like an end-of-the-bench player. Last season Hollinger's model did well predicting the success of Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and Daniel Green, but it also failed on players like Jan Vesely, Jimmer Fredette, and Josh Selby. This year it has pegged Meyers Leonard with a projected PER of 7.02, which is decidedly awful. Average PER in the NBA is always set to 15.

That low mark puts Leonard behind players like Tyler Zeller (8.23), Andrew Nicholson (8.22) and Fab Melo (7.73), and near the bottom of the big man rankings. Taking into account his considerable tools and great athleticism, Hollinger ranks Leonard as the No. 26 prospect in the entire 2012 NBA Draft class.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard Will Work Out For Detroit Pistons On Monday

Illinois sophomore center Meyers Leonard has been working his way up draft boards since declaring his intention to turn pro and now appears to have very good odds of landing in the lottery. One potential destination for Leonard is Detroit, and he'll be working out for the Pistons along with several other prospects on Monday.

Awesome workout in Detroit next Monday for No. 9 pick: Sullinger, Zeller, Leonard, Henson, T. Jones, P. Jones

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 18, 2012

Related: 2012 NBA Mock Draft: Chad Ford Sees Milwaukee Nabbing Meyers Leonard

Leonard averaged 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for Illinois during the 2011-12 season. That production came after a freshman season during which he played sparingly.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: DraftExpress Sees Meyers Leonard Going To Milwaukee

Illinois center Meyers Leonard heads to the Milwaukee Bucks with the 12th overall pick in the latest mock draft from Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com. This is just the latest mock draft that's tied Leonard to Milwaukee of late, making it seem more and more likely that the two sides are simply meant to be.

After trading Andrew Bogut to Golden State and with Ersan Ilyasova an unrestricted free agent, Milwaukee is woefully thin in the frontcourt. Seven-footer Meyers Leonard has a terrific combination of size and athleticism and huge upside. He and Tyler Zeller are the early favorites here.

Even after an up-and-down career at Illinois, nobody should be surprised by the attention that Leonard has received from NBA teams. Players with his size and athleticism are truly rare, particularly when they've already flashed some semblance of the ability to play at a high level.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Chad Ford Sees Milwaukee Nabbing Meyers Leonard

The Milwaukee Bucks are projected to draft Illinois center Meyers Leonard with the 12th overall pick in Chad Ford's latest mock draft for ESPN. This isn't the first time that Leonard has been tied to Milwaukee in a mock draft from a major publication, so there may be some legitimate steam behind Leonard's reportedly improving stock.

Here's what Ford wrote:

The Bucks gambled a few years ago on Brandon Jennings and it paid off big time. At this point in the draft, Leonard is risky but could have huge upside. The Bucks really need a center after trading Andrew Bogut to the Warriors at the trade deadline. Leonard is a work in progress, but has the size and athletic ability to be a dominant big man down the road.

For now, the Bucks are a team that's clearly built around Jennings and Monta Ellis, the player Milwaukee acquired for Bogut. They're both guards, though, so it's highly likely that the Bucks go for a big man with their first round pick this year. Given that Leonard has reportedly impressed in workouts, he could go surprisingly high.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Meyers Leonard To Milwaukee In SI.com's Latest

Illinois center Meyers Leonard is projected to be taken by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 12th overall selection in the latest mock draft from Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated. Over the past few weeks, Leonard has slowly emerged as a likely lottery pick thanks to impressive showings during workouts.

Much like Lillard, Leonard was a combine All-Star by most accounts. He measured well (7-1¼ in shoes, with a 7-3 wingspan) and did more than enough to likely keep him in the lottery. After dealing Bogut, the Bucks could certainly use Leonard. He averaged 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for Illinois after a freshman season in which he barely played. Zeller and Syracuse center Fab Melo will likely be considered.

After playing sparingly during his freshman season, Leonard emerged as one of the key players for Illinois as a sophomore. While he couldn't lead the Illini to a NCAA Tournament appearance, he's done enough over the past year-plus to convince GM's that he can develop into a legitimate NBA center, one of the rarest commodities in the sport.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard's NBA Combine Athletic Test Results On Par With Tyler Zeller's

The 2012 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago allowed Meyers Leonard to shine brightly in front of a large audience of NBA executives and scouts, and after a very impressive weekend he has left teams with very few reasons to keep Tyler Zeller higher on the draft board. In fact, most teams have reportedly prioritized Leonard over Zeller thanks to solid measurements, great work in drills and excellent interviews.

In terms of the 2012 NBA Draft Combine measurements and athletic test results, Leonard measured taller than Zeller, boasted a longer wingspan, posted a higher standing reach, has bigger hands, matched Zeller on the no-step vertical and sprint, and posted higher bench press numbers. Here is a direct comparison of the two center prospects, using the Draft Express database:

Name	Height w/o Shoes	Weight	Wingspan	Reach	Body Fat	Hand Length	Hand Width	No Step Vert	No Step Vert Reach	Max Vert	Max Vert Reach	Bench	Agility	Sprint
Tyler Zeller	6' 11.25"	247	7' 0"	8' 8.5"	6.4	9	9.75	30	11' 2.5"	34	11' 6.5"	16	11.13	3.4
Meyers Leonard	6' 11.75"	250	7' 3"	9' 0"	5.7	9.25	11	30	11' 6"	32.5	11' 8.5"	19	11.34	3.41

Leonard is currently projected to land somewhere in the 9-to-14 range in the draft.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft Rumors: NBA Execs Say Meyers Leonard Has Moved Ahead Of Tyler Zeller

The 2012 NBA Draft Combine presented former Illinois Fighting Illini center Meyers Leonard with a golden opportunity to outshine fellow center prospect Tyler Zeller and catapult himself firmly into the draft lottery. By all accounts, Leonard accomplished that mission in Chicago. ESPN's Chad Ford called the Illini big man a "big riser" moving "closer to 9-14" in the draft over the weekend, and on Monday he followed up that report by adding: "virtually every exec in the NBA was predicting that he...had moved ahead of Tyler Zeller on their big boards."

Ford is well-connected and he spends plenty of time trying to get information from NBA executives, and everything he has mentioned is positive news for Leonard. The 20-year-old center is two years younger than Zeller, he measured out much better at the combine, gave excellent interviews, including one with the Milwaukee Bucks (who hold the No. 12 overall pick).

Even if some of the information is loaded with hyperbole or otherwise intended as a smokescreen to cover other prized prospects on the boards of lottery teams, every sign points to Leonard moving up draft boards. For a direct comparison of Leonard, Zeller and other lottery prospects, be sure to check out my full post at Hardwood Paroxysm -- Fun With 2012 NBA Draft Scouting Reports (A Mock Draft Supplement For Lottery Picks).

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub..

2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard Goes No. 9 In New Mock At CBS Sports

Meyers Leonard declared for the 2012 NBA Draft after two seasons at Illinois. Now the 7-foot center is projected to go in the first round, possibly in the lottery. A new mock draft by Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports has Leonard cracking the top 10, with Detroit Pistons projected to selected Leonard at No. 9.

Related: 2012 NBA Draft Rumors: Meyers Leonard 'Closer To 9-14' Range, Says ESPN's Chad Ford

Leonard is considered a raw player with tons of upside due to his bountiful athleticism. As a sophomre, Leonard averaged 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He probably could have been even better if the Illini had anyone to get him the ball.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard Scheduled To Work Out For Milwaukee Bucks

Illinois center Meyers Leonard has seen his draft stock improve since declaring for the pros, and Milwaukee stands among the teams interested in his services. Leonard is going to work out for the Bucks, as is fellow center -- and lottery prospect -- Tyler Zeller of North Carolina.

[UNC's Tyler Zeller and Illinois' Meyers Leonard] interviewed with Bucks officials during the NBA draft combine that continued Friday at the University of Illinois-Chicago. And they are among the players scheduled to work out for Milwaukee, which holds the 12th-overall pick in the draft.

Related: 2012 NBA Draft Rumors: Meyers Leonard 'Closer To 9-14' Range, Says ESPN's Chad Ford

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft Rumors: Meyers Leonard 'Closer To 9-14' Range, Says ESPN's Chad Ford

Meyers Leonard is a potential lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and he is likely moving up draft boards around the league after the Draft Combine in Chicago. Leonard measured out much better than fellow center prospect Tyler Zeller and played well enough in drills that several teams said he "looked awesome," prompting ESPN insider Chad Ford to say the former Illini center was a "big riser" and that he has moved "closer to 9-14" in the draft.

Meyers Leonard the other big riser here. Think his range is closer to 9-14 now.#NBACombine

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 8, 2012

In NBA Mock Drafts completed prior to the combine, Leonard didn't crack the lottery on ESPN or Draft Express (check out the related link above for more). Now even Chad Ford -- a connected ESPN reporter who draws from scouts and general managers across the league -- thinks Meyers Leonard is deserving of a premium pick. The teams in Ford's suggest range are the Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft Measurements: Bulls Target Tu Holloway, Smallest Prospect In Draft

The 2012 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching, and the league has released the latest measurement numbers from the NBA Draft Combine. Of interest to Chicago Bulls fans: G Terrell Holloway of the Xavier Musketeers -- who is among the Bulls' draft targets -- measured in as the league's smallest prospect thus far:

For comparison, here is a look at the league average via DrafExpress:

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft Rumors: Meyers Leonard 'Looked Awesome' At Draft Combine

Illinois center Meyers Leonard is hoping to be a lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and apparently he helped his cause by seriously impressing multiple NBA scouts and general managers at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. On Friday Leonard's measurements trumped Tyler Zeller in every respect, and ESPN's Chad Ford is reporting that he really impressed people on Thursday in the workouts. According to Ford's report, multiple teams said Leonard "looked awesome out there" thanks to his excellent motor showing well in drills and his use of a better-than-expected 10-foot jumper.

Leonard was listed as a fringe lottery pick on multiple draft sites prior to the combine, but teams are always looking for reasons to fall in love with a big man in the draft. At 20 years old and a legit seven feet, there is a good chance he will see his stock rise in the next few weeks.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft Combine Measurements: Meyers Leonard Bigger Than Tyler Zeller

At the 2012 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, it's measurement day. Prospects have weighed in and measured up, and everyone knows that every inch matters. Meyers Leonard and Tyler Zeller are in a competition to win the heart of lottery teams in the 2012 NBA Draft, so every extra layer of analysis could make the difference.

Chad Ford of ESPN is reporting measurements for various players via Twitter on Friday, and he dropped some interesting nuggets on Zeller and Leonard. Here are the exact measurements for both players, via Ford:

Tyler Zeller 6' 11.25" socks 7' 0.5" shoes and 7' 0" wing 8' 8" reach

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 8, 2012

Meyers Leonard 6' 11.75" socks 7' 1.25" shoes and 7' 3" wing 9' 0.5" reach

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 8, 2012

As you can see, Leonard is taller, has a longer wingspan and a taller standing reach than Zeller. It's all good news for the Illini big man, considering he is two years younger than Zeller as well. But is it really all that bad for Zeller? Draft Express has compiled average height, wingspan and standing reach by position for multiple NBA drafts, and both players rate out fairly well against the positional average at center. One area where the UNC prospect might have a problem is his standing reach, which is quite a bit shorter than the average center over the past several years. Take a look at the chart for the sake of comparison (via Draft Express):

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: Meyers Leonard A Lottery Pick In SB Nation Mock

The 2012 NBA Draft is still a few weeks away, so the battle between North Carolina center Tyler Zeller and Illinois center Meyers Leonard for who earns the higher selection still has plenty of time to play out. Zeller is two years older that Leonard and isn't as athletic, but there are a few late-lottery teams that could be looking for more polish than upside.

SB Nation's Tom Ziller put out his latest 2012 NBA Mock Draft, and in it both Zeller and Leonard are lottery picks. The premium on quality big men certainly has something to do with it, and in this iteration Zeller edges Leonard as the more coveted player. The Milwaukee Bucks swipe the UNC product at No. 12, while the Houston Rockets take Leonard with the No. 14 pick overall.

Both big men get off the board before Terrence Jones (No. 15), Terrence Ross (No. 17), Austin Rivers (No. 18) and Dion Waiters (No. 20).

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Chad Ford Projects Meyers Leonard To Orlando

In his latest mock draft, ESPN's Chad Ford projects Illinois center Meyers Leonard to be selected with the 19th overall pick by the Orlando Magic. Leonard is considered one of the top big men in the class, a rare prospect that could eventually develop into a true starting center.

The Magic are in serious danger of losing Dwight Howard in the next year. Leonard is a far cry from Howard, but he's big, he's athletic and he has shown some raw promise, especially on the defensive end.

Leonard had an impressive freshman year at Illinois, averaging 13.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 1.9 BPG despite showing some obvious growing pains. Although he shot 58 percent from the field, he was extremely raw on the offensive end, showing little in the way of polished post moves.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

2012 NBA Draft: Bulls Work Out Draft Prospects

Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago, is reporting that the Chicago Bulls are playing host to a number of potential draft picks in the upcoming 2012 NBA draft. Sam has the details on the visitors:

1st group: Will Barton, Jared Cunningham, John Jenkins, Doron Lamb, Tanner Smith, Hollis Thompson

— Aggrey Sam (@CSNBullsInsider) June 4, 2012

2nd group: J'Covan Brown, Tu Holloway, Fab Melo, Josh Owens, Robert Sacre, Tony Wroten

— Aggrey Sam (@CSNBullsInsider) June 4, 2012

Draymond Green, Andrew Nicholson, Scott Machado were supposedly in over the weekend

— Aggrey Sam (@CSNBullsInsider) June 4, 2012

The Bulls hold the No. 29 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and will be looking to add enough talent to compensate for the loss of PG Derrick Rose, who will likely miss at least half the 2012-13 season.

For more, stick with SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard Has Goal To Be A Lottery Pick

Illinois Fighting Illini center Meyers Leonard declared for the 2012 NBA Draft after the conclusion of his sophomore season with the Illni, and now he is focused on making that move pay off. NBA teams are always looking for another solid big man, so it's up to Leonard to prove he's a more attractive option than North Carolina center Tyler Zeller after Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond are both selected early in the first round.

Leonard is projected as the No. 14 pick in Tom Ziller's latest 2012 NBA Mock Draft, but he told Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com that he is focused on the workouts and that he doesn't pay attention to internet trends:

"The ultimate goal is to be lottery pick. I've just been working really hard to make myself a top pick. I don't pay attention to online boards. It's useless to me. It comes down to who trains the hardest and wants it the most."

He's been putting in work on ball handling, extending his range and developing face-up moves in the offseason, so it will be interesting to see how teams compare him to Zeller heading into the draft.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Meyers Leonard Heads To Rockets In SB Nation Projection

The 2012 NBA Draft Lottery is over and the order has been determined, so now it's time for some good old fashioned mock draft action. Tom Ziller of SB Nation projects the lottery picks in his latest 2012 NBA Mock Draft, and Illinois Fighting Illini center Meyers Leonard heads to the Houston Rockets with the No. 14 pick. North Carolina big man Tyler Zeller jumps off the board two picks earlier and goes to the Milwaukee Bucks, but Leonard will have a chance to prove he's the better investment during workouts in June.

In other mock draft news, ESPN has the Bulls going for a SG, and Draft Express is thinking along the same lines (but with a far more obscure prospect).

For more on NBA Draft prospect rankings, be sure to check out this breakdown of the hierarchy and the changes on Draft Express and ESPN.

For more, stick with SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard Rated Sixth-Best Prospect In Draft By ESPN's Doug Gottlieb

In anticipation of Wednesday night's NBA Draft Lottery, ESPN's Doug Gottlieb listed his personal list of the top 30 prospects for the upcoming draft. Somewhat surprisingly, he ranks Illinois center Meyers Leonard as the sixth-best prospect available.

Considered an enigmatic talent, Leonard has elite size and athleticism, but he's considered extremely raw, as Gottlieb writes:

Leonard is a freak athlete, with a perfect frame to play 15 years inside in the NBA. Leonard is Andrew Bynum-like in his goofiness, but even though he's just a kid, his body and skill set are those of a man. He can play the high and low post, guard ball screens, shoot, and has good hands. Is he a killer? I'm not sold, frankly, but man, the potential is there.

Generally speaking, Leonard's stock in the draft isn't considered to be as high by most draft analysts. He's ranked No. 19 on the top 100 list compiled by ESPN's Chad Ford, who projects him as a mid-first round pick after an up-and-down year with the Fighting Illini.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

NBA Draft 2012: Meyers Leonard's Official Measurements

One of the annual traditions of the process leading up to the NBA draft is the measuring of a few basic aspects of a player, including height, wing span and vertical jump. On Wednesday, ESPN's Chad Ford was around for the official measuring of Illinois center Meyers Leonard, one of the elite post players available in this year's class.

Here's how Leonard came out:

Meyers Leonard vitals: 6-11.5 no shoes.7-1 in shoes.7-2.5 wing. 8-11 reach.31 no step vert. 33 1 step vert

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) May 30, 2012

There's nothing especially crazy here, as Leonard was measured at 7-1, 245 pounds in shoes while playing for Illinois. As Ford noted, teams measure players without shoes to ensure that they're not adding lifts to their shoes to gain an additional height advantage. Playing at over seven-feet tall, Leonard is one of the tallest players in the draft and the rare athlete that could ultimately become a true center in the NBA.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

Meyers Leonard On Official 2012 NBA Combine Participants List

The NBA has released the official 2012 NBA Combine participants list with Illinois Fighting Illini G Meyers Leonard among the 59 players attending.

Leonard, a sophomore at Illinois, is widely expected to be among the draft picks in the 2012 NBA Draft. In his two seasons with the Illini, Meyers has played in 65 games and earned a starting position in his second year with the club. In the 2011-12 NCAA season, he averaged 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

The highest drafted Illini in school history is G Deron Williams who was selected No. 5 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. There have been a total of 14 Illinois grads selected in the NBA draft.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

2012 NBA Mock Draft: Meyers Leonard Goes No. 21 To Boston Celtics In Latest Draft Express Projection

Illinois Fighting Illini center Meyers Leonard declared for the 2012 NBA Draft after his sophomore season. The big man has rare athleticism for a 7-footer that should make him a first round pick, even if he's considered to be raw on both ends of the court. In the most recent mock draft from Draft Express, Leonard falls to the Boston Celtics at pick No. 21, which is later than he's been projected in many mocks.

Because big men are always at a premium, it stands to reason Leonard could be skyrocket up the board as the draft nears. Falling to Boston might not be a bad career move for the former Illini center, though. Another former Big Ten center, Greg Stiemsma of Wisconsin, enjoyed a nice run with the C's this year. With the impending free agency of Kevin Garnett, it seems likely Boston will be in the market for a big with one of their two first round picks.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

2012 NBA Draft Rumors: Meyers Leonard Projected At No. 17 To Dallas Mavericks By NBADraft.Net

Former Illinois Fighting Illini center Meyers Leonard is projected to anywhere from pick No. 10 to pick No. 20 in the 2012 NBA Draft, and a recent mock draft by NBADraft.net has him in that exact area. Leonard is selected with pick No. 17 by the Dallas Mavericks in the mock, three spots after the end of the lottery.

Related: Meyers Leonard Is Declaring For NBA Draft In Part Because His Family Needs The Money

Given that big men are always at a premium on draft night, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Leonard sneak into the lottery. He's as athletic as any pure center in the class.

The Mavericks would present a nice landing spot for Leonard. After Dallas let Tyson Chandler leave via free agency last offseason, the Mavericks desperately missed a dominating physical presence inside. While it remains to be seen if Leonard can ever turn into that, he certainly has the physical gifts to tempt some team into a taking a flyer on him.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

2012 NBA Draft Rumors: Warriors Might Be Targeting Meyers Leonard

The 2012 NBA Draft has taken a backseat to the NBA Playoffs for the time being, but there are already rumors that the Golden State Warriors are targeting former Illinois center Meyers Leonard in the draft. Tim Kawakami of Mercury News reported via Twitter that Golden State is "taking a good look at Illinois C Meyers Leonard, maybe as a trade focus" if they move up from their late-round pick.

The Warriors made a big splash at the NBA Trade Deadline this past season when they pulled off a five-player deal with the Milwaukee Bucks that featured a swap of Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown's Expiring Contract for center Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson (who later was flipped for Richard Jefferson). In other words, they would likely be in the market for more of a backup center.

Bogut is recovering from surgery to repair a broken ankle he suffered as a member of the Bucks in January, but the Aussie is expected to be ready for the start of the season as is the clear No. 1 at the position. Power forward David Lee is a favorite of the organization and is locked in to a long-term deal at that position, but Leonard is considered more a traditional big man anyways.

Legitimate centers are hard to come by in the modern NBA, and if GSW thinks Leonard is a solid rotation big for the future, they apparently might be willing to maneuver to get him. Leonard is currently ranked as the No. 15 overall prospect on Draft Express and the No. 19 prospect on ESPN.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

NBA Mock Draft 2012: Meyers Leonard Not Selected In SB Nation's Mock Lottery

The order of the lottery has yet to be determined, but that hasn't prevented SB Nation's Tom Ziller from releasing another 2012 NBA mock draft. Kentucky big man and Chicago native Anthony Davis has been pegged to go No. 1 overall for months, and indeed, that's where Ziller has him.

Another name of local interest isn't in Ziller's mock lotto, and it registers as a bit of a surprise. Illinois Fighting Illini 7-footer Meyers Leonard left school after his sophomore season and is considered to have rare athleticism for a player his size. By the time the draft rolls around it June, it's very possible Leonard's name will be called in the first 14 picks. At the moment, though, our expert doesn't see it.

There are a trio of big men Ziller currently projects as lottery picks that Leonard could leapfrog. Ziller has Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger going No. 9 to the Detroit Pistons, North Carolina center Tyler Ziller going No. 12 to the Milwaukee Bucks, and Baylor power forward Perry Jones III selected by the Houston Rockets with the No. 14 pick.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball, head over to Hail to the Orange. And for more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

Meyers Leonard Is Declaring For NBA Draft In Part Because His Family Needs The Money

2012 NBA Draft: Meyers Leonard Declares After Sophomore Season

Illini center Meyers Leonard is going pro.