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 Leonard was the first Big Ten player taken in this year's draft.
The first Fighting Illini to be drafted since 2006, he becomes the
15th first-round pick in school history and the third Illini chosen
in the lottery since it began in 1985. He is Illinois' highest
drafted player, meanwhile, since 2005, when Deron Williams was taken
third overall.
Leonard averaged 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots
last season, earning honorable mention all-Big Ten. He led the conference in blocks, ranked 11th in the nation in field goal
percentage (.584) and was third in the conference in rebounding.
Leonard scored in double figures 21 times during his sophomore
campaign, led by a pair of career-high 22-point outings versus Richmond
(Nov. 22) and Iowa (Feb. 26). He had six 20-point games on the year
and was the UI's leading scorer in 10 contests.
Leonard ranked third in the Big Ten with eight double-doubles and
was the Illini's top rebounder in 21 games, led by a career-high 16
boards versus Cornell (Dec. 19). His 60 blocked shots were the
second-highest single-season total in school history. He tallied a
career-high six blocks in the season opener versus Loyola-Chicago (Nov.
11).
Leonard becomes the first-ever Illini player on Portland's roster.
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University of Illinois all-time
first-round NBA draft picks
2012 -- Meyers Leonard, No. 11
2005 -- Deron Williams, No. 3; Luther Head; No. 24
2003 -- Brian Cook, No. 24
2002 -- Frank Williams, No. 25
1990 -- Kendall Gill, No. 5
1989 -- Nick Anderson, No. 11; Kenny Battle; No. 27
1987 -- Ken Norman, No. 19
1983 -- Derek Harper, No. 11
1973 -- Nick Weatherspoon, No. 13
1970 -- Mike Price, No. 17
1957 -- George BonSalle, No. 7
1954 -- John Kerr, No. 6
1951 -- Don Sunderlage, No. 9
[Text from
news release received from Derrick Burson, associate sports
information director, University of Illinois]
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