Bradley 2021 commit- Malevy Leons

[Da Coach]

We reported that Bradley was recruiting Mineral Area Community College big man Malevy Leons exactly 1 month ago-
https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/sp...712#post497712

2021 Malevy Leons- a 6'9" athletic forward at Mineral Area Community College. He is originally from the Netherlands. Mineral Area is 22-0 so far, ranked #2 in the NJCAA rankings, and they just advanced to the NJCAA Midwest Regional Championship game next Saturday. Malevy Leons is averaging a team-leading 18.0 ppg & 8.8 rpg, and he is shooting 56% from the field.
https://athletic.mineralarea.edu/spo...ns_malevy_oxdu
https://www.jucorecruiting.com/news_...e/show/1129239

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2FTmI901RQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVYt_9-1Tts

Today, he committed to Bradley!
He is from IJmuiden, Netherlands, which is near the capital of Amsterdam, and not too far from the hometown of current Bradley player Rienk Mast (Groningen, about a 2 hour drive). He has played the last 2 seasons at Mineral Area Community College.

[lb071964]

Final 4 schools he choose from was Marquette, Wichita State, Missouri and Bradley. He took a visit to Missouri yesterday and was pushed to commit. He stayed focused on what he felt was best for him and now he’s a Brave! WSU is to say the least is a little surprised they didn’t win out.

[Da Coach]

Malevy Leons is 6'9", and he averaged 18.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.1 assists/game, and he shot 56.4% from the field. He is also a terrific defensive player. Mineral Area's record these last 2 seasons is 54-3 with Leons starting at center.
https://athletic.mineralarea.edu/spo...ns_malevy_oxdu

He lead Mineral Area CC to an undefeated regular season. They went to the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas, where they were upset by the eventual champion, Cowley County CC, 105-101. Leons had 19 points and 9 rebounds in the game-
https://athletic.mineralarea.edu/spo...?view=boxscore

Note in that box score that one of his teammates is former Bradley guard Jamir Price.
Malevy Leons was named to the NJCAA National Tournament All-Tournament Team, as well as the Region 16 Player of the Year, and 1st team All Conference and 1st team All Region 16. And he is a lock to be named to the NJCAA All American team.
https://www.mymoinfo.com/macs-leons-...region-16-poy/

Highlights-
New video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2FTmI901RQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVYt_9-1Tts

[Dub]

Very nice indeed! Looks like a skilled player who will be exciting to watch.

[Da Coach]

Malevy Leons was the top big man target that our coaches were recruiting, and to beat out high-major teams from the SEC, Big East, AAC, as well as numerous other mid-major programs is a real coup.
He turned 21 in September, and should have 3 years of eligibility at Bradley.

https://www.jucorecruiting.com/news_article/show/1129239

https://dailyjournalonline.com/sports/local/mac-seeks-to-rebuke-rewrite-hutch-history/article_7e2c0074-9979-51eb-870f-d059a953a312.html

Bradley has one more scholarship to give and will look to land a wing player.

[Big Mike]

Are you kidding me ....WOW wasn't sure we could pull this one off.....nice VERY EXCITED!

[egib52]

This may end up being Wardle's biggest recruiting win thus far!!! Welcome to the Hilltop! Now let's get a 3 and D athletic wing.

[Bradley3342]

I know videos of players don’t mean a whole lot sometimes but stats don’t lie. This kid looks like the real deal. Nice scoring averages, rebounds and assists. It’s just what we needed to help inside especially not knowing if Boya will be healthy coming into this year...

[Da Coach]

Final 4 schools he choose from was Marquette, Wichita State, Missouri and Bradley. He took a visit to Missouri yesterday and was pushed to commit. He stayed focused on what he felt was best for him and now he’s a Brave! WSU is to say the least is a little surprised they didn’t win out.

Thanks Ib071964! I am told that Wichita State and Missouri were "all in" on Malevy Leons and pressed hard for him. In addition to those two, Marquette, DePaul, Iona and Vanderbilt wanted him. I agree with egib52, this is this staff's (and the credit goes to the entire staff) biggest recruiting win so far.
Congratulations to the Bradley coaches. Fans are going to love this team!

[Da Coach]

Article from BradleyBraves.com-
Malevy Leons Signs with Bradley Basketball

https://bradleybraves.com/news/2021/5/4/mens-basketball-malevy-leons-signs-with-bradley-basketball.aspx

[Tommy]

Wow, beating out a power conference team and is this the 2nd time now this recruiting period someone has chosen BU over WSU?

This is pretty exciting.

[KillerB]

Forgive me if someone else already posted the video tweeted out by the Braves:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1389695077098815488

[Dubl R 1]

Love it!! Congrats to Malevy and to BU!

love this whole recruiting class so far!!

[BUfan17]

Huge get for Bradley, those are some big names to be beating out. This year is shaping up to look really good, we are going to have some solid big men. I expect heavy minutes for Mast, Boya(if he can stay healthy), Leons, and Hannah.

[Da Coach]

Huge get for Bradley, those are some big names to be beating out. This year is shaping up to look really good, we are going to have some solid big men. I expect heavy minutes for Mast, Boya(if he can stay healthy), Leons, and Hannah.

Yes, and Ja'Shon Henry will probably be a starter at the power forward spot and get around 25-30 minutes/game, if he can avoid fouls.
It would be terrific if our other senior could return, but that may not be.
The 2021-22 Bradley team still might be the deepest team since the mid-1980's teams.
The coaches will have to try to find playing time for everyone, and that goes for the deep guard group.
How will they split time between 5th year senior Mikey Howell who may be the steadiest ball handler who had a 2.1 assist/turnover ration this past season at UCSD, probably our best pure point guard and defensive player Terry Roberts, who also had a 2:1 assist/turnover ratio, Ville Tahvanainen, who I believe will rebound with a terrific shooting year, and the talented young group of Jayson Kent, Maxime Ekono, and Connor Hickman.