Kawhi Leonard’s strength and hands remind at least one Eastern Conference executive of Ron Artest.

Like Artest, the exec says, Leonard wasn't a great shooter in college.

"This guy's not a great shooter," the executive said of Leonard, "but it's not broken."
Leonard's drive also impresses.

"He's relentless," said a Pacific scout. "I don't know how whoever gets him is going to play him, but he can do some things."

An Eastern Conference executive said: "In the college game he's a real physical defender, very handsy guy, likes to bump cutters and block people. I think he can guard out on the floor. I think he's a three all the way and he's gonna guard threes. He could get better. Right now it's not there. But he passes pretty good."

San Diego State forward Kawhi Leonard says he'll hire an agent and enter the NBA draft, meaning the Aztecs are losing four starters from the best team in school history, according to an ESPN.com report on Thursday.

Leonard is skipping his final two seasons after helping the Aztecs go 34-3 and reach the NCAA round of 16 for the first time. The Aztecs lost to eventual national champion Connecticut in the West regional semifinal.

Statistical wizard Ken Pomeroy crowned Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger the tempo-free player of the year.

Sullinger posted a 120.4 offensive rating while using 27% of the Buckeyes’ possessions while he was on the floor. The Buckeyes’ center also ranked in the top 50 nationally in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage, and fouls drawn per minute.

Pomeroy calculates his rankings using offensive rating and possessions used, as well as Dean Oliver’s measure of individual defensive stops.

UConn’s Kemba Walker (.521), BYU’s Jimmer Fredette (.487), Duke’s Nolan Smith (.472), Purdue's JaJuan Johnson (.450), San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard (.421), Wisconsin's Jon Leuer (.419), Texas' Jordan Hamilton (.401), Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor (.391), and Kentucky's Terrence Jones (.390) rounded out the top ten.

Kawhi Leonard’s disappearing act in the Aztecs' double-overtime victory against Temple in the Round of 32 -- followed by an average showing the next game against UConn -- was impossible to miss.

The NBA people want to see a potential lottery pick assert himself on the big stage, but Leonard shot 2-for-6 in the second half against Temple (despite facing a lot of single coverage) and was 2-for-4 in the two OTs. He followed that up with a 5-for-12 night with 12 points and nine rebounds in the Sweet 16 loss to the Huskies.

"I never had him in the lottery, so it didn't shock me," one GM said. "I think he's obviously a first-rounder, but probably closer to the bottom of the first half now."

Said another veteran executive: "I never thought he was better than a 20-to-25 guy. If there's one thing he can't do, it's score. That's not what he does. He's more of an energy guy who gets buckets on second-chance opportunities.... [The tournament] didn't hurt my opinion of him that much because I didn't have him that high to begin with."

San Diego State's Malcolm Thomas believes his roommate Kawhi Leonard will enter the draft.

Leonard has yet to declare for the NBA draft as an underclassman or formally hire an agent that would negate his remaining two seasons of collegiate eligibility, but Thomas considers both a mere formality.

“I think he’s leaving,” Thomas said, “for sure.”

Leonard averaged 19.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per 40 minutes pace adjusted.