:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13252779/dsc_0125.0.jpg)
Ricardo Ledo's path to NBA has been a unique one. In fact, the trail he has blazed while pursuing basketball has been anything but ordinary. Consider this.
Four different high schools in five years.
Rated #22 prospect of 2012.
Committed to Providence.
Then de-committed to Providence.
The opened up his options to Kentucky, West Virginia, Syracuse, and Connecticut.
Then re-committed to Providence.
Ruled academically ineligible to play his freshman year at Providence by the NCAA.
Still allowed to practice with team.
Declares for the NBA Draft without a single minute logged in a game.
Not one collegiate stat to his name.
Then on Thursday Ricardo Ledo made a name for himself. He stood out among the other elite shooting guards in this draft class. He beat guys off the dribble. One time exploding right to hammer home a vicious one handed tomahawk slam. He displayed great passing. He displayed great man to man defense. He hit the outside shot with consistency. He hit the midrange shot with consistency. He hit the wide open jumper. The off the dribble jumper. He displayed a tight handle and good court vision. All in all, he looked like one of the best players on the court. He did so well that he got the quick attention of the Jazz brass that were sitting in the front row whose attention had been waning as the combine had reached the afternoon.
Not bad for a guy who never played a minute in college.
Making this more interesting from a Utah Jazz perspective, the Jazz are not new to drafting a highly rated prospect who never logged a collegiate minute. In 2011, the Utah Jazz drafted Enes Kanter who had been ruled ineligible for the prior season and it has looked like a savvy move since then. Watch for Ricardo Ledo to rise through the draft boards as he is able to work out for teams. Ricardo Ledo will sneak into the 1st round of the NBA Draft. He might just sneak into the teens if he continues to display the kind of basketball prowess he exerted today in day 1 of the NBA combine.