Advice for Leslie: Stay in school

By Michael Carvell

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Although Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox says Travis Leslie has informed him that he is returning to UGA next year, Leslie has yet to formally announce his intentions.

So what does one of Leslie's best friends think? Phil McCrary, Leslie's coach at Columbia High, has remained close with his former star. Leslie even made a furious drive to Macon last Saturday after returning from the SEC tournament in Nashville to sit in the stands and watch Columbia win the Class AAA championship.

The coach has some advice for his prized pupil: “I’m for Travis returning to Georgia for next year. I think that’s the answer that everybody wants. I don’t think he would [declare his eligibility for the NBA draft] this year, but you never know. Travis will make the final decision ... I would advise him to stay.”

This season, Leslie developed into one of the SEC’s most electrifying players with his high-flying dunks. McCrary says he expected Leslie’s breakout season.

“What they are seeing at Georgia, I saw all through high school,” McCrary said. “None of this is new to me. And I promise you are going to see greater things from him next year because he knows his weaknesses and what he needs to do this summer to get better. Those things, we’re going to make sure they are taken care of.

“You’re going to see a better basketball player next year. You’re going to see a leap. My thing with Travis is just to remain humble. If he continues to do things the right way, that young man is going to be fine.”

McCrary said he and Leslie will meet “sometime soon” with Fox to discuss the guard’s future.

Said McCrary,“We know Travis is a great talent, but there are some parts of his game that he needs to work on for another year. He needs a better hold on his game, to improve on things like his dribble and the catch-and-shoot [technique]. Can you imagine if he keeps improving his jump shot? A shooting guard with that type of athleticism? That would be hard to stop. If he works on his game for another year [in college], then I think big things are going to happen for him.”

The 6-foot-4 Leslie was The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Class AAAA Player in 2008 after averaging 21.3 points and 9 rebounds while leading Columbia to the state championship. Last year as a freshman, Leslie averaged 6.3 points.

This year, Leslie more than doubled his average (14.3 points) and became a YouTube sensation with his dunk over Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins on Jan. 9.