C.J. Leslie suspended, Thomas De Thaey held out

NC State sophomore power forward C.J. Leslie has been suspended for the second time in his Wolfpack career.

Leslie, who will miss tonight's opener against UNC Asheville at the RBC Center, was previously suspended Feb. 5, 2011, at Duke, and will miss a total of three games.

NC State reported violations to the NCAA that Leslie and a relative had received impermissable benefits totaling $410.

Leslie was involved in a major car accident last May and borrowed a car from a friend and former NC State student, and used the car for a week. The same NCSU student paid apartment application fees for Leslie's half-brother. Leslie will make charitable contributions of $410 to represent the value of the car had it been rented ($150) and the application fees ($260).

Leslie will return to action Nov. 19 against Vanderbilt.

"I understand the issue and regret what has occurred," Leslie said. "I will support my teammates in every way possible and look forward to getting back on the court."

The former student also admitted to providing $1,349 in impermissible benefits to a former student-athlete, which remains the subject of further review and handling through standard NCAA processes.

NC State freshman power forward Thomas De Thaey will also be held out of tonight's game as a precaution over eligibility concerns.

Leslie finished second on the team in scoring with 11 points per game and led the squad in rebounding with 7.2 per contest last year. The 6-foot-8, 209-pounder led the team with 39 blocks and 42 dunks.

Leslie posted four double-doubles for points and rebounds, and had six double-digit rebounding games, including a season-high 19 against Youngstown State. Leslie totaled a season-high 21 points and six blocks in the season opener against Tennessee Tech, and also had 19 points twice against Wake Forest.

De Thaey wasn't dressed with the team during pregame warmups. The product of Canarias Basketball Academy in the Canary Islands signed with NC State last May. He averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game last year. The Dendermonde, Belgium, native is expected to be one of NC State's top reserves and deliver outside shooting firepower at the post positions.

De Thaey participated in Monday's exhibition game Monday against the Flagler. The 6-foot-8, 239-pounder went 4 of 7 from the field for eight points, and added four rebounds, one assist and one steal in 19 minutes of action.

Junior power forward Richard Howell, junior center/power forward DeShawn Painter and freshman small forward Tyler Harris are the likely candidates to get a boost in minutes played tonight as a result of the two moves.

NC State coach Mark Gottfried will be fielding questions about both situations following tonight's game.