Cody Sun will likely play in Academy for the 2021 season

Following his official departure from 100 Thieves on November 9, professional bot laner Liyu “Cody Sun” Sun enters the 2021 competitive season without a confirmed team roster spot. This transition period represents a critical juncture in his six-year League of Legends career.

In a candid video update, Cody Sun detailed his challenging offseason experience, revealing that initial LCS interest quickly dissipated when organizations shifted their recruitment strategies. The absence of viable LCS offers has positioned Academy league participation as his most probable immediate pathway.

The current LCS bot lane talent pool features exceptional depth, with emerging players like Johnson “Johnsun” Nguyen and Ian “FBI” Huang capturing team attention. This competitive saturation sidelines experienced veterans despite their historical contributions to the league.

Cody Sun acknowledges receiving multiple Academy team proposals, indicating his likely acceptance of a developmental league position to demonstrate renewed competitive readiness for LCS consideration.

Since his 2016 debut with Immortals, Cody Sun has maintained consistent LCS presence across three organizations. While retaining solid mechanical skills, his recent performance inconsistencies and summer split struggles have reduced his offseason market demand.

The 2020 competitive year proved particularly challenging, with 100 Thieves failing to secure playoff qualification during the Summer Split. Statistical performance metrics placed Cody Sun below league averages for his position, diminishing his recruitment priority during this critical team-building period.

This isn’t Cody Sun’s first experience with Academy league demotion. His 2018 stint with Clutch Gaming’s developmental squad preceded a successful LCS return that culminated in 2019 World Championship qualification. This historical precedent suggests potential for similar career trajectory recovery.

Who is Cody Sun?

At 23 years old, Cody Sun represents one of North America’s most experienced ADC professionals. His career launched with Immortals in 2016, achieving World Championship qualification the subsequent competitive season through consistent performance and team synergy development.

Cody Sun established historical significance as 100 Thieves’ inaugural bot laner when the organization joined the LCS in 2018. His career path included a strategic transition to Clutch Gaming before returning to 100 Thieves for the 2020 season. With his contract concluded, he now explores new competitive opportunities within the evolving League ecosystem.

What role does Cody Sun play in LoL?

Cody Sun specializes in the bot lane position, professionally designated as Attack Damage Carry (ADC). This role carries substantial team responsibility as one of two primary damage sources, requiring exceptional mechanical precision and decision-making under competitive pressure.

During peak performance periods, Cody Sun has demonstrated remarkable consistency metrics that placed him among the LCS’s most reliable performers. His international experience includes two World Championship appearances, testing his skills against global elite bot lane competitors.

The ADC position demands specific skill development priorities including last-hit precision, positioning awareness, and teamfight target selection. These fundamentals separate adequate performers from truly impactful carry players who can determine match outcomes through individual playmaking.

Professional ADC players must master champion rotation flexibility, adapting to meta shifts while maintaining core mechanical excellence. This balance between adaptability and specialization represents one of the role’s most challenging aspects that Cody Sun has navigated throughout his career.

When is the 2021 LCS season?

The 2021 LCS competitive season commences in early 2021, though Riot Games had not announced specific dates as of November 2020. Based on historical scheduling patterns, the Spring Split will probably initiate during late January 2021, following typical offseason patterns.

League organizers typically release detailed season information approximately 6-8 weeks before competition begins, allowing teams adequate preparation time for roster development and strategic planning phases.

The evolving competitive landscape features increased talent density across all positions, particularly in the bot lane where new prospects continue emerging. This creates both challenges and opportunities for veteran players navigating career transitions between competitive tiers.

For players in Cody Sun’s position, Academy league participation offers valuable scrimmage access, coaching resources, and performance visibility that can facilitate LCS roster returns. The developmental system serves as both proving ground and rehabilitation platform for experienced professionals.

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