After much anticipation and an experience more nerve-racking than the infamous Lebron James’ “Decision,” sophomore forward Calvin Leslie announced Wednesday he will return to play his junior season for the N.C . State men’s basketball team.
“It was a tough decision,” Leslie said. “I mean, it’s a big decision to make like that for anybody. I just figured, we started a good thing last year, I might as well finish it. That was sort of the main thing.”
As a sophomore, Leslie helped lead the Pack to its first Sweet 16 since the Herb Sendek era. His return locks State in as a favorite to win the ACC next season and places the Pack as high as the top 5 in early national poll predictions.
With such high expectations, fans, coaches and players are feeling a mountain of pressure long before the start of the 2012-13 season. All eyes are on the Pack, but Leslie is prepared to meet whatever the media throws his way.
“[We] got a little taste of it last year,” Leslie said regarding the Pack’s late season media coverage. “We took it well. I know I took it well and I expect my teammates to be right there with me. I have their back and they have my back.”
Leslie stated he “wanted to take as much time as possible” to make the decision, but it seems possible he knew in the back of his mind he would return to Raleigh for another season.
Two weeks prior to Wednesday’s announcement, Leslie requested a report from the NBA Draft Advisory Committee to provide himself with a thorough analysis of his draft status. However, Leslie made it apparent the report had little to no part in his decision.
“I really never even read that letter,” Leslie said. “I know that sounds pretty bad, but it was one of those decisions where I kind of knew, I kind of had an idea.”
When asked if any single person helped influence his decision, Leslie chuckled and smiled.
“Well, that’s funny you said that because I think I had one individual that was worse than all the fans,” Leslie said. “He’s coming to this school this year and he goes by the name of Rodney Purvis . He texted me every night he could. He was just saying how he’d love to play with me and he hoped I’d come back.”
Purvis is one of three McDonald’s All-Americans joining the Red Terrors next season. The relationship between the two star athletes extends beyond his recruitment.
“He’s a big part of our comeback and I’m really looking forward to playing with him, as well as the rest of the recruits. I just have a special relationship with Rodney because I knew him ever since we were younger.
“That’s like my little brother and I love him.”
Leslie said he first notified head coach Mark Gottfried of his decision Tuesday in a face-to-face conversation, originally joking that he wasn’t returning.
“He kind of put his head down like, ‘Oh man, are you really about to tell me this?'” Leslie said. “At the end, he was obviously very excited.”
Leslie is looking forward to the start of the season and is optimistic about the team’s future.
“We’re not planning to lose anything,” Leslie said. “We just want to go out and we’re going to win everything we can and do everything we possibly can to win it all.”