Cooley: No Decision From Ledo Yet
Sunday, April 07, 2013
It all started yesterday when ESPN's Andy Katz apparently tweeted that "Ed Cooley will find out Tuesday if Ricky Ledo will return for his redshirt freshman season." That news sent Friar fans scrambling for answers.
GoLocalProv.com contacted Cooley minutes before the start of Saturday night's national semifinal game between Syracuse and Michigan in Atlanta where Cooley is, and the Friars coach said that no decision has been made by Ledo to his knowledge. "I haven't talked to him about it yet but plan on talking to him early next week when I return home (from Atlanta)," he said. "My phone's been blowing up on this down here but we haven't talked yet. We'll do that in a few days."
Cooley did say on his final radio coach's show that he would "tell him to go" if Ledo were going to be a top 10-20 draft pick. Without that kind of guarantee, however, Cooley intimated that he would recommend that Ledo stay in school for another year.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTA source close to the program claims that Ledo "is gone" although GoLocalProv.com could not confirm that through any other sources or Ledo himself.
Ledo, and every other underclassmen, has until Tuesday, April 16th to decide whether or not he wants to turn pro or return to school. That is the early entry withdrawl deadling meaning players must withdraw from the NBA draft by that date if they hope to retain their college eligibility.
Depending upon which 2013 NBA mock draft you consult, Ledo is or isn't a lock for the first round.
CBSsports.com's Jeff Goodman has Ledo going 17th in the first round which should come as no surprise. Goodman had suggested sometime ago that there was a strong likelihood that Ledo would never play a game in a Providence College Friars uniform.
NBADraft.net doesn't even have Ledo listed as going in either the first or second round despite having a number of undeclared underclassmen listed in their latest mock draft.
While no one denies the talent possessed by Ledo, what complicates matters for the Providence native is the fact that he essentially hasn't played competetively for almost two years adding the element of uncertainty into the equation.
There is little doubt that spending a year under Ed Cooley has benefitted Ledo and that he could also benefit greatly from another. However, no one knows what family members or friends might be advising Ledo. Also, despite the option of obtaining insurance, the risk of injury has to be a factor for Ledo as well. Most importantly, however, is the lure of guaranteed money that comes with being drafted in the first round of the June NBA Draft.
The good news for Cooley is that, regardless of Ledo's decision, PC should have a very strong team next season with the combination or transfers and recruits that will be joining an already talented bunch.
If Tuesday is indeed "D-day," Friar fans will be anxiously awaiting Ricky Ledo's decision.
