Chicago Colleges Report

Illinois' Leonard goes 11th to Portland

June, 28, 2012

6/28/12

7:46

PM CT

By Scott Powers | ESPNChicago.com

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty ImagesMeyers Leonard will team with LaMarcus Aldridge in the frontcourt for Portland.

Illinois sophomore center Meyers Leonard was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 11th overall pick in the NBA draft on Thursday.

Leonard, a 7-foot-1, 250-pound center, averaged 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks last season. He was the first the Big Ten player selected in this year’s draft.

“Just to be selected this high and be considered one of these guys in this room and in this class is unbelievable,” Leonard said on ESPN after being drafted.

Leonard is the first Illini player to be drafted in the top 11 since Deron Williams was selected No. 3 overall by the Utah Jazz in 2005.

Leonard attended the NBA draft at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. and was joined by his family and his former Illinois coach Bruce Weber, who now coaches at Kansas State.

Leonard starred at Robinson High School in Robinson, Ill., and played for the Chicago-based Mac Irvin Fire club team.

Scott Powers | email

Reporter

Scott Powers is a general reporter for ESPNChicago.com. He is an award-winning journalist and has been reporting on preps, colleges and pros for publications throughout the Midwest since 1997.

Tags:

Illinois Fighting Illini, Basketball, Illinois Fighting Illini, Portland Trail Blazers, Meyers Leonard, 2012 NBA draft

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

Scott Powers

Powers is an award-winning journalist and has been reporting on preps, colleges and pros for publications throughout the Midwest since 1997. He joined ESPNChicago in May 2009 and lives in Chicago.

Adam Rittenberg

Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago and writes for the Big Ten blog.

Brian Bennett

Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville and writes for the Big Ten blog.

Matt Fortuna

Fortuna joined ESPN.com in 2011 after working for MLB.com and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, where he covered college sports. He grew up in New York and is a Penn State graduate. Fortuna's Notre Dame blog is here.

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