With this year's college basketball season all wrapped up, I want to take a look at 5th year senior Malevy Leons, a player who shined this season for a rather good mid-major team in the Bradley Braves.
For those who don’t know Malevy Leons is a 6’9 forward from IJmuiden, Netherlands who just finished up his 3rd and final season with the Missouri Valley’s Bradley Braves.
The Flying Dutchman played in 35 games this year in which he started in every one, playing 34 minutes a game in which he averaged 13.8 points per game, 1.5 steals and blocks a game, 1.3 assists per game and 7.1 rebounds a game with his playing time, points and rebounds being career highs for the Dutchman.
He did all of this shooting 49% from the field, 34% from beyond the arc and 78% from the line. None of which are career highs but for how many minutes he played a game it’s rather impressive to see.
What Malevy’s calling card is would be his length and defense which secured him Missouri Valley defense player of the year both this season and last becoming the only player in Bradley Braves history to win this award in back to back seasons.
Along with this he secured himself first team all-MVC this season along with becoming the first player in all of Missouri Valley conference history to rack up 50 blocks and 50 steals in back to back seasons. When I tell you he’s a defensive stopper this is what I mean.
He’s exactly what you want in a 3 and D type of player. He can lock up any guard or forward, he plays like he’s 7’1, amazing basketball IQ and can drive to the basket or take a spot up 3 from anywhere on the court.
He may not be the flashiest player or even a well known player if you aren’t a fan of the Missouri Valley but if your a scout who’s tuned into any game of his or seen any of his film or even gotten the opportunity to speak to this man you’ll know that he deserves a shot in the league to show the league what the kid from the Netherlands who got the opportunity to rep the 309 can do.
Oh and while we’re at it, let’s get #14 up in the rafters as one of the best Bradley Braves of all time deserves some much needed recognition on what he’s done both as a player and as a person.
Thank you Mal, we owe you one.