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VI’s Leslee J. Smith goes pro in Bolivia

- representing La Salle B/ball Club of Bolivia
Virgin Islander Leslee J. Smith. Photo: Provided
Leslee J. Smith (left) becomes the third Husker player from last year’s team to sign a professional contract, joining Terran Petteway, who is in training camp with the Atlanta Hawks, and David Rivers, who signed to play in Germany. Photo: File
Leslee J. Smith (left) becomes the third Husker player from last year’s team to sign a professional contract, joining Terran Petteway, who is in training camp with the Atlanta Hawks, and David Rivers, who signed to play in Germany. Photo: File
In just his third professional game, Leslee J. Smith put up 30 points, 15 Rebounds four assist in 39 mins of play, as La Salle moved to 2-1 in early part of the season. Photo: VINO/File
In just his third professional game, Leslee J. Smith put up 30 points, 15 Rebounds four assist in 39 mins of play, as La Salle moved to 2-1 in early part of the season. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islander Leslee J. Smith is settling in very smoothly with his new teammates at La Salle Basketball Club in Bolivia and already has put up some stellar numbers in early season games.

In just his third professional game, Smith put up 30 points, 15 Rebounds four assist in 39 mins of play, as La Salle moved to 2-1 in early part of the season.

The former Nebraska basketball player, who earned his degree in Sociology earlier this month, received a double dose of good news at the end of August.

First, the forward signed a contract to play with La Salle in Bolivia. La Salle plays in the Liga Sudamericana, and the season runs from late September until December.

Then later in the day, Smith was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick by the Kentucky Mavericks of the Premier Basketball League Draft. The franchise moved from Shreveport-Bossier to Owensboro, Kentucky, in the offseason to join the PBL. The 2016 season begins in January.

Smith, who Virgin Islands News Online featured as a Young Professional on May 23, 2014, made a recovery from off-season knee surgery to play in Nebraska’s final 17 games in 2014-15. He averaged 3.1 points and 3.1 rebounds a game while averaging 12.6 minutes.

Smith becomes the third Husker player from last year’s team to sign a professional contract, joining Terran Petteway, who is in training camp with the Atlanta Hawks, and David Rivers, who signed to play in Germany.

19 Responses to “VI’s Leslee J. Smith goes pro in Bolivia”

  • rewrsdffds (26/09/2015, 10:02) Like (4) Dislike (15) Reply
    So he going to make $250 a week playing in Bolivia. Then play in US for less than $500 a week so he's going to make less than $9000 a year. What's all this news about. Are we so desperate to promote athletics. Let's not misinform or under inform. Please let or children know that he could make more using the college degree he got off the court then the measly money he making. As long as he graduated. Paper misleading our children because this isn't a dream, coming out of college to make so little income has to be a nightmare. Just to say you play pro?
    • @ok (26/09/2015, 14:25) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      It's looks like this story touch your soul!!! But boo just to inform you!!! You have to start some where!!! Who knows maybe in the next year or Soo he will be making millions!!! How much will you be making? Are how much are you making now??? I hope when the year end your income is 100,000.00!! Smh
    • i from here (26/09/2015, 14:40) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ ok

      Did you know Kleon was in the same boat now 10 years later he is training with an NBA team and projected to make more money then your whole family combine in their life time ???
    • reality (26/09/2015, 14:58) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Why you mad tho?
    • family (26/09/2015, 20:23) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      Not about the money but the passion for the sport!!! doing what he wants to do. Travel and gain experience. He loves basketball and will play for nothing. Enjoying his young life before he settles down.
      • Really (27/09/2015, 05:05) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        He's not even the best play in the leagues here. He averaged 1 pt a game in CBC games. He averaged 3 points a game in college. Those aren't NBA potential numbers. He's starting in the league that everyone else g
    • math? (27/09/2015, 07:43) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      250 a week doesn't add up to "less than 9000 a year though" lol
  • truth be told (26/09/2015, 10:07) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Told you guys Pettiway was a NBA player and was argued down. The Hawks see what I saw two years ago and now look. Some talk basketball, other KNOW basketball. That's problem in Tortola the talkers.
  • more than bounching a ball (26/09/2015, 10:16) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Let mvw tek dat before the elections he was insulting basketball players and the fraser league
  • Short sighted (26/09/2015, 11:33) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    @OK.

    You are so shortsighted. You are looking at the "now" dollars, rather than the exposure and experience the young man stands to gain. The money will come later ... This investment on his future is priceless!
  • Voter Too (26/09/2015, 12:51) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is not always about the money as one day he might be making more than $250 or $500or $9000. While in Bolivia expand on your spanish, learn more of the people and their culture, do a lot of sightseeing make new friends and promote the BVI .
  • ccc (26/09/2015, 15:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Need a little more money
  • guy hill (26/09/2015, 17:10) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Always continue to do your very best. Be safe.
  • Stop It (26/09/2015, 22:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Steve P and Jason E could go right now to Bolivia and score 20 points per game. Stop gassing this thing up!
  • Really (27/09/2015, 05:07) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Everyone else goes to Bolivia when they are at the end of their career. It's the last stop. That should tell him his career is dead
  • Jus saying (27/09/2015, 08:58) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why is it some are so negative even if he isn't making the world of money the exposure is good for him and the bvi my question would be for the negative persons have you ever been to Bolivia ? If your answer is no then he have already done something you never did and may never get to.
    • @ jus saying (27/09/2015, 13:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      You're right. If I was Leslie I'd go too. Its just that he isn't that good of a basketball player is why he getting buried on here. Plus you know we, talking bad on we own is in we heritage. Lol
  • big ups (27/09/2015, 16:16) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don't mine them Leslie , the coach of Nebraska allowed Pettiway to shoot everything , u take this time now to shine and allow the everyone to see your true talent . Basketball is a team sport but nowadays 1 player takes 40 shots to make 20 points with 1 rebound and 0 assist , but yet he's a star on ESPN


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