PEORIA — Malevy Leons knows the adage that clothes make the person. However, in his case, he was the one who made the clothes.
The Bradley Braves' 6-foot-9 senior star forward began his final semester working as a merchandising and marketing intern for sports information director Cody Roskens.
“They lured me with pizza,” Leons said with a laugh. “They said it was a pizza meetup, so I showed up.”
The next thing Leons knew, he was officially an intern and was responsible for stamping the “PIA” logo on the Bradley women's basketball team's uniforms. The uniform is red with white letters “PIA” and the bottom transitions into a scene of downtown Peoria, and was worn in the game against Illinois State University at Renaissance Coliseum on February 22nd. Ta.
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“It was a great learning experience,” Lyons said. “That internship was required as a condition for my degree. I worked in an office environment, traveled around campus and in the community to promote campaigns, and was with staff filming promotional videos.
Leons said it's a chance to take advantage of his basketball talent and extend it beyond practice and his personal life.
“I thought about it a lot, but if I had done accounting or something else, I don't know how that would have helped me in basketball,” he said. “But the marketing and merchandising is a good fit, so I might end up designing basketball apparel one day.”
wearing the uniform again
Lyons will wear his familiar No. 14 jersey at least one more time when the Braves host Loyola in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament on Wednesday at Carver Arena.
In his final season of eligibility, the big forward with NBA tools thought he played his final game at home on Feb. 28 against Southern Illinois.
But for him and the rest of his Braves teammates, this NIT game is a gift and a curtain call.
“It’s very exciting, it’s just amazing,” Lyons said Monday as BU begins preparations for former Missouri Valley Conference rival Loyola. “Playing at Carver Arena, this place, the fans, you'll never be disappointed.”
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The same goes for Lyons. He joined Bradley's 1,000 career point club this season, earning All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team honors and repeating MVC Defensive MVP honors. His length and tenacious defense, combined with strong outside shooting, give him serious prospects as a pro candidate in Europe and possibly the NBA G League.
“Mullevey Lyons is a special person,” Bradley coach Brian Wardle said. “All of our fans should come and see his big smile on the court again.”
A year ago, Peoria's NIL collective Home of the Brave made a serious effort to help keep Bradley with the Lions, and Bradley made the decision to stay in his final year of eligibility. Monday was relative, as the NCAA transfer portal heated up and Valley teams like Northern Iowa (five players) and Southern Illinois (six players) were hit hard by roster departures.
Wardle acknowledged that every team faces turmoil in the postseason, and the transfer portal is key. Lyons faced that crossroads last year and has never looked back.
“It was a great decision I made,” Lyons said. “There's something about investing in multiple seasons and building something together. It was a great decision for me to stay with them.
“I would say to anyone, 'Do what makes you happy.' For me, that was Bradley.”
speak bravely
Bradley vs. Loyola could be a defensive battle, as both teams are ranked in the top 50 nationally. …Bradley and Loyola last met in 2021-22, the Ramblers' final MVC season.Bradley still has a forward on his roster that season. Malevi Lyonsguard conor hickman,Security guard Cade Hardke and sam hennessyand forward Darius Hanna. Connor Linke Moreover. … Loyola's roster includes an All-A 10-conference guard. braeden norris6-8 forward Tom Welch valpo transfer guard sheldon edwards As for the remaining players who played against Bradley in the 2021-22 season. … “We remember some of those guys. Loyola is a very good team and we're excited to play against them,” forward Bradley Malevi Lyons he said on Monday.
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