Prep star considers overseas payday over NCAA

[BAMAPHIN 22]

A year ago, there was speculation that former shoe company czar Sonny Vaccaro was set to go barnstorming over in Europe with a group that would include O.J. Mayo, Bill Walker and a few other elite players coming out of high school.


At the time, it seemed pretty far-fetched that an American-born player would bypass the college experience to play in anonymity outside his home country.


It didn't end up happening, but now it appears as though Brandon Jennings, arguably the top incoming freshman in the country, could become a trendsetter of sorts and opt for overseas money over a one-year college experience at Arizona.

"He's definitely considering it," said Kelly Williams, the father of New Jersey Nets point guard Marcus Williams and also a close advisor to the Jennings family. "Why wouldn't he?"
"If it's a sweet enough deal, why wouldn't he look into it?" Williams added. "But there's nothing definitive right now. They are in the process of investigating it, but he's not going to go just to become the first kid to go overseas.

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/wcSto...#story=8288490

[ChambersWI]

sounds like he's going through with it because he didn't get a high enough grade on his SAT/ACT to get into Zona. Good luck getting any Euro team to sign him to a one year deal.

I also think he'll be in for a rude awakening if he does go overseas.Euroleague ball is very competitive, and most of those guys have been playing pro since they were 15. Jennings is a great prospect (though that hair style went out of style a long time ago), but just because he dominated in high school doesn't mean he'll do as well over there.

[dlockz]

Originally Posted by ChambersWI

sounds like he's going through with it because he didn't get a high enough grade on his SAT/ACT to get into Zona. Good luck getting any Euro team to sign him to a one year deal.

I also think he'll be in for a rude awakening if he does go overseas.Euroleague ball is very competitive, and most of those guys have been playing pro since they were 15. Jennings is a great prospect (though that hair style went out of style a long time ago), but just because he dominated in high school doesn't mean he'll do as well over there.

Some euroleague team will give him a one year contract if they think he is good enough which Im sure he is. ncaa TEAMS DO IT EVERY YEAR now and if a team needs a point guard and thinks its one player away why not , not to mention its good publicity for euroleague. The NBA came up with that stupid age rule and now all you have is a bunch of guys leaving after thier freshman year. More power to the kid, some people just are not meant for college and college has little to do with playing basketball longterm. Hell even if he only got a 1 year 1` million deal its still just as beneficial if not more than playing one year in college.

[djfresh47]

If he does do it I think it could really hurt college basketball. I believe guys should be able to go straight from high school. The decision not to let them is based on giving teams an extra year of scouting; along with allowing a veteran an extra year as the 12th man. Most guys aren't ready directly out of high school. Though I think it's better for them to be practicing against pro's than to be in college. Really I agree with Dukie Vitale that a minimum should be set if a guy elects to go to college, yet allow high schoolers to go.

The biggest problem with guys declaring IMO, is bad advice from agents and teams putting up the "smokescreen." I can't blame the teams but if Deandre Jordan thought he would fall to the 2nd rd I don't think he declares.

[ChambersWI]

Originally Posted by dlockz

Some euroleague team will give him a one year contract if they think he is good enough which Im sure he is. ncaa TEAMS DO IT EVERY YEAR now and if a team needs a point guard and thinks its one player away why not , not to mention its good publicity for euroleague. The NBA came up with that stupid age rule and now all you have is a bunch of guys leaving after thier freshman year. More power to the kid, some people just are not meant for college and college has little to do with playing basketball longterm. Hell even if he only got a 1 year 1` million deal its still just as beneficial if not more than playing one year in college.

No top Euroleague team will not give Brandon Jennings a contract. FIBA develops the players in camps, and sign them to contracts at 15. No top team will give an 18 year old American right out of high school a 1 year deal. He'll get a contract from some team (not a top level team), but he probably won't play all that much. As proven by the last olympics, the US can't just throw anybody out there and win. Jennings is not a system PG, which is pivotal in European basketball, and no pro coach in Europe will be willing to give him good minutes to improve.

I hope he does succeed, but it won't be as easy as so many people think because no European team is gonna waste their time developing a player for 1year. This will hurt him a lot more than it will help him (he is considered a top 5 pick, if he tanks in Europe he'll fall, if he does good he stays top 5)

[Ferretsquig]

Originally Posted by djfresh47

If he does do it I think it could really hurt college basketball. I believe guys should be able to go straight from high school. The decision not to let them is based on giving teams an extra year of scouting; along with allowing a veteran an extra year as the 12th man. Most guys aren't ready directly out of high school. Though I think it's better for them to be practicing against pro's than to be in college. Really I agree with Dukie Vitale that a minimum should be set if a guy elects to go to college, yet allow high schoolers to go.

It will hurt college ball....at least the pocketbooks of the universities. The game itself shouldn't suffer all that much. For all the attention these one and done players receive, the most entertaining teams to watch are generally those well stocked with upperclassmen.

I really do hope the Jennings' experiment works out and others follow suite. The game will be better for it and at least we can maintain the illusion of scholarly athletics.

[dlockz]

Originally Posted by ChambersWI

No top Euroleague team will not give Brandon Jennings a contract. FIBA develops the players in camps, and sign them to contracts at 15. No top team will give an 18 year old American right out of high school a 1 year deal. He'll get a contract from some team (not a top level team), but he probably won't play all that much. As proven by the last olympics, the US can't just throw anybody out there and win. Jennings is not a system PG, which is pivotal in European basketball, and no pro coach in Europe will be willing to give him good minutes to improve.

I hope he does succeed, but it won't be as easy as so many people think because no European team is gonna waste their time developing a player for 1year. This will hurt him a lot more than it will help him (he is considered a top 5 pick, if he tanks in Europe he'll fall, if he does good he stays top 5)

well he has decided to go to europe so Im sure he has a solid offer out there.

[dlockz]

Originally Posted by Ferretsquig

It will hurt college ball....at least the pocketbooks of the universities. The game itself shouldn't suffer all that much. For all the attention these one and done players receive, the most entertaining teams to watch are generally those well stocked with upperclassmen.

I really do hope the Jennings' experiment works out and others follow suite. The game will be better for it and at least we can maintain the illusion of scholarly athletics.

A few things should be done to help the NBA and colleges as well as athletes. Develop a true minor league system in the NBA , every team should have an NBDL team and Allow high school seniors in the draft, if a player signs to go to college than he has to play two years unless he gets a hardship reason. I think the NFL should also change its system so true sophmore;s can declare.

[misterx]

as a Zona fan I can say he was only going to be there 1 year anyway. the problem was that he scored poorly on his first sat test then re took and got something 600 points higher which raised a flag with ncca. so they looked into and he took the sat for a third time while waiting result that were delayed for some reason is when he decided to play in Europe

[ChambersWI]

Originally Posted by misterx

as a Zona fan I can say he was only going to be there 1 year anyway. the problem was that he scored poorly on his first sat test then re took and got something 600 points higher which raised a flag with ncca. so they looked into and he took the sat for a third time while waiting result that were delayed for some reason is when he decided to play in Europe

leads everybody to believe he failed because you can check the scores online. Demar DeRozen (another top recruit who is committed to USC) also is waiting his scores after doing poorly, so he might go to Europe as well.

I do remember there was talk about Bill Walker and OJ Mayo doing it, but they decided against it, and neither DeRozen or Jennings are the prospects that Walker and Mayo were.

Don't take me as saying it is a bad move cause I hope they do succeed, but the move to Europe will not be as easy as they think it will.

[djfresh47]

Originally Posted by dlockz

A few things should be done to help the NBA and colleges as well as athletes. Develop a true minor league system in the NBA , every team should have an NBDL team and Allow high school seniors in the draft, if a player signs to go to college than he has to play two years unless he gets a hardship reason. I think the NFL should also change its system so true sophmore;s can declare.

In a perfect world that would work. Though I don't believe the NBAPA will allow it. The rule was put in place so teams would have an extra year to scout players so they would make fewer mistakes. I heard somebody talking about it a day or so ago that Deandre Jordan went from being a lottery pick to a 2nd rd guy because of the rule. I also believe that he was probably given some horrendous advice by an agent and NBA executives.

The NBA is a bit hypocritical on the situation also. When watching the draft I recall hearing that a downside to some players is that they're not 19 or 20. Players get eligible and then don't show up for the 2nd semester because they've already made there mind up about going into the draft. When guys are on the cover of magazines like LeBron and Sebastian Telfair were when in high school it also doesn't help.

[MikeO]

No "TRUE SOPHMORE" is ever ready for NFL play. The reason that rule is in effect because the NFL is a sport about size and power. Even the best college freshmen and sophmores aren't close to being NFL ready. Nothing to do with age, just not getting kids killed on the field of play in the NFL. That is why that rule is effect. And if you do let those kids jump pro that early, how will they get their bodies physically ready for competiting against grown men......yep, steroids!!! It opens a box the NFL wants no part of.

3 years of college is enough for kids to grow their bodies to be ready to compete at the NFL level

[MikeO]

God bless this kid for going. By all means he is entitled too. No reason to go through the farse of picking a college, going to classes for 1 semester (all joke courses too). Then come January and the start of the 2nd semester not going to anymore classes.

The system is flawed. This kid is too dumb to even get in to play the system and instead of taking a test 50 times till you get a good score at least he is wise enough to say screw it, i will go somewhere else for a year then return.

Now, in Europe he may kill his DRAFT VALUE, but at least he is willing to risk it. Instead of going to some Junior College or somewhere else where he will be a bum for a year waiting for the big payday to come in 365 days.

[djfresh47]

Originally Posted by MikeO

No "TRUE SOPHMORE" is ever ready for NFL play. The reason that rule is in effect because the NFL is a sport about size and power. Even the best college freshmen and sophmores aren't close to being NFL ready. Nothing to do with age, just not getting kids killed on the field of play in the NFL. That is why that rule is effect. And if you do let those kids jump pro that early, how will they get their bodies physically ready for competiting against grown men......yep, steroids!!! It opens a box the NFL wants no part of.

3 years of college is enough for kids to grow their bodies to be ready to compete at the NFL level

Yeah the NFL rule works but I don't think it matters in basketball. The NFL is a win now league. I think teams would be reluctant to invest in a freshman or soph. In the NBA they can afford to wait it out because it's not such a huge investmant. In the NFL if you miss on a Qb it sets a team because 3-4 years. In the NBA if you miss on a draft pick it doesn't kill a team. The model NBA franchise which IMO is the Spurs usually don't even bring there picks to the NBA for a few seasons.

[MikeO]

Originally Posted by djfresh47

Yeah the NFL rule works but I don't think it matters in basketball. The NFL is a win now league. I think teams would be reluctant to invest in a freshman or soph. In the NBA they can afford to wait it out because it's not such a huge investmant. In the NFL if you miss on a Qb it sets a team because 3-4 years. In the NBA if you miss on a draft pick it doesn't kill a team. The model NBA franchise which IMO is the Spurs usually don't even bring there picks to the NBA for a few seasons.

Bottom line is the NFL is played by MEN. not kids. not boys,....MEN!! And you can't have some kid 1 or 2 years out of high school on the same field with grown men. It takes kids in football at least 3 years to get their bodies developed and ready to play on the NFL level. That is why that rule is in place.

Your right though the NFL and NBA is night and day. Any kid can walk off the street and play in the NBA and be good.