BURN THE HORSE
UALR’s seventh signee of the 2012 class brings something a
little different than anybody else on the roster.
Leroy Isler is a junior college transfer from Lee Junior College
in Baytown, Texas. He’s a 6-5 guard/forward who plays a tough, physical style
and isn’t afraid to try and lock down his opponent’s best guard.
Isler was a high school star at Boys and Girls in Brooklyn,
N.Y., averaging 17.8 points and 13.7 rebounds. That landed him on the New York
Daily News’ first team All-Star Team. About him, the Daily News said. “at
times, played like a coach on the floor. Routinely guarded opponents’ top offensive
threats and frequently hit big shots.”
UALR has searched for that type of player since the
departure of John Fowler a few years ago. There are some other candidates on the
roster now but no one who has proven they can do it consistently.
Out of high school he had offers from several schools
throughout the northeast, including Fairfield, Hofstra, LIU-Brooklyn, Marist, Quinnipiac,
Robert Morris, Siena and South Carolina State.
He ended up at Lee Junior College where he played the past
two seasons. As a sophomore he averaged 11 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists
and 1.7 steals. He shot 47 percent from the field, 36 percent from the
three-point line and 58 percent from the free throw line.
He had to finish up course work this summer to graduate at
Lee to make him eligible. That appears to have happened, clearing his path to UALR.
