Bradley University Athletics

Bradley Commit Malevy Leons Named Player of the Year

Men's Basketball 5/6/2021 10:58:00 AM

The newest member of the Bradley basketball program earned the nation's top junior college honor on Thursday as Malevy Leons collected NABC Two-Year College Player of the Year accolades.

Leons is the first-ever Brave to receive the honor and the first Missouri Valley Conference player since Wichita State's Cleanthony Early earned the award by the NABC in 2011-12.

Also named a first-team All-American on Wednesday, Leons is coming off a campaign where he led Mineral Area College to its best season in program history. The Cardinals finished the regular season with a perfect 20-0 record before claiming the Region 16 and Midwest District Championships. He then guided Mineral Area to the program's first-ever victory at the NJCAA Tournament, earning All-Tournament Team honors as the Cardinals advanced to the Elite 8.

The 6-foot-10 forward led the team with 18.7 points and 9.5 rebounds in 2020-21 – finishing the season ranked 37th nationally in points and 25th in rebounds. Leons shot 56.4 percent during his standout campaign, while also adding 3.1 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.

A native of IJmuiden, Netherlands, Leons was also named the Region 16 Player of the Year, while collecting first-team all-region and all-conference accolades.

Leons is one of five players signed to join the Bradley basketball program for the 2021-22 season. The Braves have won two of the last three Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles, earning a bid to the respective NCAA Tournaments.

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