luther

As we in this forum have discussed as a potential option for top players, Brandon Jennings has said he's looking into playing overseas instead of at Arizona next season (in case he doesn't qualify). http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3454157

Krstic All Star

It's a good option, considering the NBA rule.

What ticks me off is this part:

So if someone actually does improve, he has to go through the test yet another time? Come ON

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croco

I guess this would be a milestone, although not a good one for the NCAA or NBA. Sooner or later this would happen because of mandatory college year, but I'm shocked that it's already the case. And we are not talking about a minor case here, Jennings could very well be a Top 10, maybe even Top 5 pick next year.

Dornado

That kid is phenomenal... I have a feeling Arizona will figure out a way to get him on campus.

I agree with KAS that having him take a 3rd test is a little silly.... as someone who tutors people how to take professional standardized tests as a part-time job, big increases in scores are pretty common if someone asserts themselves...

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luther

I agree that for a kid who really does put in the time and work and so improves, it's silly to make him take the test. But what if the improvement is due to cheating? Clearly, that's what they're worried about, and to a certain extent I can understand that, too. Larry Johnson was unable to attend SMU for that very reason, as I recall. His quantum leap of a score was questioned.

luther

As for the phenomenon of top recruits playing pro ball for a year rather than going to college, I am all for it, 100%. I wish everyone who didn't intend on three years of college went pro, in fact. In some ways it makes college ball better, in that it increases continuity for more casual fans, not to mention takes out a lot of the slime that always seems to be around a couple big players or programs. For the kids, it means they don't have to pretend they're college students and go through all that rigmarole.

bball2223

It was only a matter of time before some McDonalds AA made this decision. He can go over to Europe, play professional basketball, make money, and not have to worry about some random person flagging his score and making him take tests for no reason (as well as going to class). The experience of playing with professionals while receiving the skill instruction they do can only benfit him in the long run. I just hope whatever team he lands on (if he goes to Europe) finds him a weightroom.

luther

In my opinion, it also only benefits NBA personnel, assuming he lands with a Euroleague or high-level ULEB Cup team (which you'd assume he would), as it means they can watch him playing against grown men, professionals of a high caliber, as opposed to half a dozen tough individual match-ups in a single college season. I mean, sure, Darren Collison would be a good game. But say he ends up on a Spanish league team, and faces the likes of Raoul Lopez one night, JC Navarro, Pepe Sanchez and Jaka Lakovic the next, Pablo Prigioni and Zoran Planinic the next ... you get the idea. He gets better and GMs see if he can take the professional grind.

TM

^exactly. and that's why it's good. let them cash in before they go out there and 1) show that they really suck against grown men, 2) keep the NCAA from making money off them (without getting anything in return), etc. (I'm sure there are more reasons). This is good, IMO.

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croco

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3479195

Who could have imagined something like this ten years ago, heck before the mandatory one year at college ? This is a new dimension and a sensational development. Will we look back at this in five years and recognize that Brandon Jennings was the first of many and the one to kick it off or will this only be a temporary event ?

Porn_Player

I hear he may end up in Italy for around 300k.

For an 18 year old kid to earn 300k in one year and play in a good league of basketball can only be beneficial. This might hurt his draft stock in short-term but I can see this experience developing him into a more mature human and a better baller in the long term.

I am glad somebody has done this, it is a royal middle finger up to Stern

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