Recruiting Profile: Josh LeBlanc

On Friday night, amidst the festivities of Hoya Madness, Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas’ coaching staff scored a huge recruiting win, landing four-star forward Josh LeBlanc out of Baton Rouge, La.

LeBlanc is regarded by most recruiting outlets as a four-star recruit in the bottom half of the top 100 in Class of 2018 rankings, so clearly he will be an impact addition for the Hoyas. Here’s a closer look at what the newest Hoya brings to the table.

Basic Information:

Height: 6’7”

Weight: 215 pounds

Year: High school senior

School: Madison Prep Academy (Louisiana)

Recruiting Profile: Class of 2018

ESPN: 4-star recruit, No. 98 prospect

Rivals: 4-star recruit, No. 78 prospect

247Sports: 4-star recruit, No. 63 prospect

Scout: 4-star recruit, No. 76 prospect

Scouting Report:

LeBlanc is a 6-foot-7-inch forward with long arms and fluid athleticism. Unlike most top high school prospects, he is most known for his defense. He is an excellent shot-blocker, as his timing and seven-foot wingspan allow him to play bigger than his height on defense. He is also a strong and active rebounder on both ends.

It seems that Ewing wants to play an aggressive trapping brand of defense, and LeBlanc is a perfect fit for that style. It is easy to envision LeBlanc as an effective defender in the pick and roll, as his size and athleticism could allow him to switch, hedge, or trap effectively in different situations.

On offense, LeBlanc has more room to grow, but he has a solid core set of skills to build on. He is very quick off the floor and has shown a knack for being in the right spot at the right time, often cleaning up the offensive glass or catching and finishing underneath. He is not a real threat from the outside at this stage, but his shooting form looks solid and he should be able to show improvement once he gets into a college player development program. LeBlanc’s athleticism also allows him to play above the rim in transition, and he has been known to throw down some pretty spectacular dunks in warm-ups and dunk contests, showing off his above-average athleticism.

It is also worth noting that LeBlanc is known as one of the hardest-playing players in the class, which allows him to maximize his skill set and athleticism on both sides of the court. Every team could use a player or two like LeBlanc, as he should make a bigger impact than his box score numbers might indicate.

Potential Fit:

LeBlanc’s size, athleticism, and motor should allow him to make an immediate impact when he arrives on campus. His versatility on both sides of the ball means that he could fit into a wide range of lineups that Patrick Ewing might employ, and I would expect him to be an above-average defender at the Big East level almost immediately.

Along with Jamorko Pickett and Antwan Walker, the Hoyas are quietly building a group of athletic, switchable wings with size and length, and with time that could become a formidable group for opposing offenses. Anyone who knows Ewing should not be surprised that he seems to be focused on strengthening the defensive side of the ball. It seems like the current roster has the potential to be very disruptive on defense in the future.

I feel that LeBlanc could easily develop into a fan favorite along the lines of Jabril Trawick, as he will bring 100 percent effort every night and will consistently make subtle contributions with his effort level and athleticism.

Verdict:

LeBlanc is a huge commitment for Georgetown for a variety of reasons. On the court, he seems like a perfect fit for the style of basketball that Ewing wants to play. In addition, it is a great sign that Ewing and lead recruiter Robert Kirby were able to pull LeBlanc out of the south. LeBlanc’s final three schools included LSU and Texas A&M, two formidable southern schools, and beating them out is a great sign for the Georgetown’s recruiting. We all hoped that Kirby would be able to pull top prospects out of SEC country, and it is great to see that come to fruition in the staff’s first full recruiting cycle together.

LeBlanc is also a strong student, and Georgetown’s academics were a part of what sold him on the school.

"Josh's parents were really impressed with the academic presentation at Georgetown,” LeBlanc’s high school coach said to Scout. “It is a great academic school and they were focused on that. Also they liked how he would have the chance to compete for playing time right away, and make an impact on the program."

The addition of LeBlanc alongside Grayson Carter and electrifying point guard Mac McClung gives the Hoyas a solid start to their Class of 2018 recruiting class, which is now ranked 28th in the country. If Ewing can pull in another big man such as Javian Fleming (reportedly down to Georgetown and Alabama), the class would be that much stronger. The staff has now brought in two top-100 forwards in LeBlanc and Pickett without coaching a single game, and it’s reasonable to hope that the momentum will continue in the coming months.

With the additions of LeBlanc and McClung, Georgetown currently has two scholarships open in 2018-19. Scholarship Table.

Highlights:

Welcome to the Hilltop, Josh LeBlanc!