Senior forward Justin Leon (blue jersey) bodies up on guard KeVaughn Allen during a practice last week.
Leon Plays Hard, Plays His Role
Monday, October 10, 2016 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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Junior college transfer Justin Leon provided some pleasantly surprising productive last season, his first with the Gators.
By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It's a ritual, maybe even something of a game, coaches and players alike take part in. See a player for the first time (or in a coach's case, a prospect) and it's only natural to try and pigeon-hole him to another guy's game. It's the old, "OK, who is he?"
As in, "Who does he remind you of?"
About 13 months ago, members of the Florida basketball team were playing the name-his-game game with Justin Leon, who as a junior college All-American from Arkansas (by way of Illinois) was a complete stranger to everyone on the Gators' roster when he rolled into town. He was 6-foot-8, about 200 pounds. He was left-handed, didn't mind mixing it up in the post, could throw down when given the baseline and wasn't bad floating around the 3-point arc.
So, who was he?
Dorian Finney-Smith and Kasey Hill watched individual instruction from the sidelines. Zach Randolph was the name they bandied around the most, until another was tossed out by a bystander
What about Josh Smith?
"Good one," Hill nodded.
Obviously, the occasions are rare when a player at this level matches those of an NBA star. And no one, not even the biggest Leon fans, is going to say his first season at Florida produced along the likes of Randolph or Smith.
But Florida's players knew next-to-nothing of Leon this time last year. Truth be told, even Leon wasn't so sure what his time in Southeastern Conference would look like. What he did know, however, was the same thing Mike White and the first-year Gators staff knew when they signed Leon during their time at Louisiana Tech, then re-recruited him to UF. Leon had an unbridled desire to go all out all the time and it got him a chance to play big-time college basketball.
"I didn't expect to come in here and a play bunch last season, to be honest. When I first got here, I was just sort of finding my way around," Leon said after a practice over the weekend. "I really didn't know what to expect from myself, but I knew it would be a process. I came here knowing I had some developing to do and those were my intentions."
He then set out to realize them. The results during UF's 21-15 season that finished three games deep into the NIT showed 5.3 points and 3.1 rebounds at around 15 minutes per game, plus 49.3 percent from the floor, a team-best 37.3 from the 3-point arc, but just 46.2 from the free-throw line.
Not exactly eye-popping digits, but they do provide a baseline for Leon heading into his 2016-17 senior season as one of the locker room leaders and with a chance to start at the power forwad spot.
"He made us play him last year because of his effort and his energy," UF assistant coach Dusty May said. "When he got here, he was behind. He'd missed everything and had not played at the level of these guys, but his motor forced us to put him in the game. That's a good thing."
Justin Leon shot 37.3 percent from 3-point range last season, including 40.5 in SEC play.
As an SEC rookie, Leon had seven double-digit scoring games, including 14 points and a career-high nine rebounds in a home defeat of LSU. He put in a career-high 16 points in a road loss eventual SEC co-champion Texas A&M. He opened the league season by nailing 13 of his first 23 shots (56.5 percent) from the 3-point line, only to suffer a concussion wheh he took a forearm to the head early in a game at Vanderbilt. The Gators lost that night and Leon sat out the next game. He returned to the lineup and went 12-for-41 (29.2 percent) from deep the rest of the way, including an eight-game run when he was just 1-for-19. He rediscovered his touch in the NIT, though, knocking down six of his 10 long-ball attempts and averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in the tournament.
Along the way, one part of his game -- the one that was never in doubt -- remained consistent.
"We knew how hard he was going to play. That was one of the reasons why we brought him here," White said. "But he also showed he can do some things to help us be win and now we'll look at him to build on those things now that he's a senior."
The Gators officially opened fall practice last Monday, with Leon being one of the standout performers the first few days. After a year under strength and conditioning coordinator Preston Greene, Leon has honed his physique, adding definition in his upper torso and more strength in his lower body that should help him hold position down low on both ends of floor.
"I can see the difference and I can feel it when I'm out there," Leon said.
As the team takes shape during the preseason, and roles become defined, Leon figures to log major minutes at the No. 4 spot along with junior Devin Robinson (who also projects at the small forward position) and redshirt freshman Keith Stone. Leon also will play some at the "3," along with Robinson and graduate transfer Canyon Barry, match-ups pending.
"Or he could be end up being excellent sixth man if that's what we need from him," May said. "That's what's great about Justin. He's such a good teammate. He'll do whatever we need because he wants to win. But having said that, we do expect his numbers and percentages to go up and the main reason for that is the amount of time he's spent in the gym. He is so consistent with his work ethic as far as being one of the first here for practice or last to leave and getting his shots up."
Leon all-out ways often finding him diving across the floor for loose balls.
And as a senior, this is his last shot, sort of speak.
Leon is the first to admit his jumper or blue-collar style of play may not be the prettiest or the most graceful out there, but his way works for him. Plus — and this is important — he not only knows what his role, but is well aware of what it isn't. Knowing who you are (and who you aren't) goes a long way at this level.
Leon plays to his strength, which starts with playing hard all the time. The rest sort of just falls into place, with what the Gators need him to be.
"I can't tell you if my numbers are going to stay the same or what, but I can tell you I'll go all out all of the time and if we win more games those are the only numbers I'll care about," Leon said. "That's my main focus."
