Although the state of South Carolina is largely known for football and producing a sizable number of NFL athletes, it continues to grow as a hotbed for NBA talent. Headlined by names like Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Khris Middleton, Aaron Nesmith, and GG Jackson, there are over a dozen active players from the Palmetto state. Several historically great players (Kevin Garnett, Alex English, Jermain O’Neal, Larry Nance) have already stamped their names in the record books, which begs the question: who will be next? Well, plenty of things can happen. It’s always easier to assert someone won’t make it simply because “making it” is so difficult. That being said, all signs currently point to Josh Leonard as the next potentially special prospect from South Carolina.
Despite some challenging matchups and struggles as a team (especially of late), the 6-foot-6 sophomore’s production is undeniably impressive. Right now, he’s averaging 22.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.9 SPG, and 1.0 BPG with 53/39/64 splits. While Leonard’s raw numbers definitely separate him from his peers, they are secondary to the eye test and don’t encompass his unique, advanced abilities on the court. It’s rare to see a player with such an incredible combination of IQ, size, skill, athleticism, and the mentality to be great, yet here we are. In addition to his skillset, physical tools, and general understanding of the game, Leonard already carries himself like a real professional—both on and off the court.
While it might seem ludicrous to make such strong claims and forecast into the distant future, history states otherwise. Looking at patterns and comparing him to others who emerged from South Carolina, Leonard feels like more of a sure thing than people might realize. Sure, he’s a sophomore, but he’s arguably more polished than any of the active players mentioned above at the same stage. Ultimately, Leonard has everything you want in a basketball player. He’s the type of guy you want in a locker room and leading a team on the court. Should he maintain his current trajectory, nothing is preventing him from reaching the highest levels of success.