Home Sweet Home: Top Recruit C.J. Leslie To Join the N.C. State Wolfpack

It didn't take long for C.J. Leslie to make a final decision on where he wants to play college basketball next year.  He has decided to stay close to home and play for head coach Sidney Lowe at N.C. State.

Although this was the original school the top recruit from the Word of God Academy near Raleigh, NC, committed to, many people believed that constant attention from Coach John Calipari made the Kentucky Wildcats a front runner to win over his decision.

Not to forget that Leslie played high school basketball with John Wall and has become good friends with Brandon Knight, the number one point guard overall in the 2010 recruiting class who has signed a letter of intent to play at Kentucky next season.

Then there was UConn, who after all does have the17th best recruiting class coming in, as rated by Scout.com.

C.J. Leslie decided to make a late visit to Storrs, CT, this past weekend and he said he enjoyed his time there but it seems as if Jim Calhoun and company missed out on a golden opportunity to bolster their frontcourt for next season.

“I think I can make a major impact next season,” Leslie said regarding his choice to attend N.C. State. “Coach [Sidney Lowe] was excited when I told him.”
 
Leslie was one of the final players left to make a decision, as 6'8" forward Terrence Jones is the lone five-star prospect yet to announce his destination.
 
“I’m very relieved,” Leslie said. “I can now focus on basketball and getting better over the summer.” 

So much for all the sources that said Leslie going to Kentucky was nothing but a done deal and that a decision was imminent on him playing for the blue and white.

Leslie is going to be one special player next season and he is sure to be a focal part of an N.C. State team that will be very competitive in the Atlantic Coast Conference.