Of all the names in the 843, Josh Leonard Josh Leonard 6'7" | SF Wilson | 2027 State #24 Nation SC ‘s was probably the least surprising to see on an All-State Team. He is well established as a can’t-miss next-level prospect and one of the best players in the state right now, having been named Gatorade Player of the Year as a sophomore last year. Leonard was right back at it this season, putting up 22.1 points per game and 13.0 rebounds per game, as he crossed over 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.

Leonard continue to show why he’s considered such a high level prospect. He had an outstanding John Wall Holiday Invitational where he won Most Outstanding Player in the Day’Ron Sharpe Bracket. In the 3rd place loss to Highland, Leonard finished with 22 Points, 11 Rebounds, 3 Steals, and 2 Blocks. He is simply unstoppable when going downhill to the rim. His ability to finish in traffic is legitimately special and is constantly at the free throw line because of it. He was 6-7 from the line in this one and that touch from the stripe is encouraging as he continues to expand his range to beyond the three point line. Once that aspect of his game becomes reliable, there isn’t really a way to stop Leonard. His motor, physical gifts, and leadership are simply remarkable.

Leonard was one of the highest ranked players in the 2027 class at the Invitational, and he displayed his versatility and skill set in games against Southern Assault and Compton Magic on the first two days of the event. The 6-foot-6 wing/forward has the post moves and footwork to score in tights windows in the paint, the ability to backdown defenders with touch on the float hook, has good touch on shots at the basket, has a relentless motor crashing the boards for multiple chance scoring opportunities, and has elite bounce to get up quickly for monster dunks in the half court set-up or in transition. Leonard has the handles and makes consistent use of the crossover to get space from his defender, has a nice burst off speed off the dribble to get to the basket, and can spread the floor with the ability to connect on the 3-ball off the dribble or the catch. Defensively, Leonard has active hands and good court awareness to jump passing lanes or deflect passes and create turnovers that lead to transition points. The rising junior plays with a great motor, gives maximum effort, and was one of the most impactful 2027 guys playing up in the 17u division. 

Rounding out my list of prospects playing up at the Adidas 3SSB Championships is Josh Leonard. He displayed intriguing flashes despite losses on Wednesday and Thursday. Josh is a physically imposing Wing with a strong, 6’7″ frame and good athleticism. He looked to use that advantage in the paint in both games, excelling in transition, as a driver, and on the offensive glass. The offensive glass was a major weapon for Leonard, as he frequently punished defenses with extra possessions and easy buckets. Josh also used his athleticism to rotate and protect the rim on defense. Leonard put up 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block in Game One and 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks in Game Two.

Josh Leonard Josh Leonard 6'7" | SF Wilson | 2027 State #24 Nation SC is another name who will draw a crowd when the live periods begin. Leonard plays up on 3SSB’s Upward Stars SE 17U and is one of the top 2027s in the country. Despite his age, Josh is both physically and athletically dominant against most competition. He has also continued to show positive progression with his three-point shooting as he was 3-3 from behind the arc in the game I watched. Josh also made great reads when driving and was a handful in transition. He tallied 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals in the win.

Rounding out the South Carolina Standouts from Friday at The Bash is Josh Leonard Josh Leonard 6'7" | SF Wilson | 2027 State #24 Nation SC . He put up a stellar performance in Wilson’s win of Huntington Prep putting up 33 Points on 13-23 FG with 14 Rebounds, 2 Assists, and 4 Steals. Leonard showed some signs of improvement with his transition handle and passing out of the paint but was his usual, dominant self when it came to finishing in the paint and controlling the glass. When he put the ball on his floor he was near impossible to keep out of the paint and finished well through contact, around bodies, and with both hands. Josh’s combination of skill and physical gifts make him a tremendous prospect and one that will impact winning at the next level.