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.
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