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rocketeer · 06-21-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luther

True. And B. Jennings has played against children in the largely undisciplined world of AAU and high school basketball. I was being kind before, but now I'll say the truth: 1) he might not be played much at all, as both coaches and players would have ill feelings toward a spoiled brat (in their minds) joining their midst with undeserved hype, and 2) he'd be beaten to hell by those grown men he played against. He's obviously a great talent, and so he might succeed anyway. But he might not.

i agree with your first point. maybe the second as well, but maybe not.

neither one chances the fact that he's a good player and would be a good player in europe as well.

it just always kinda bothers me when people talk about how great the euroleague talent is because they are nba players when in reality they are nba players like terrence morris, trajan langdon, lynn greer, pj tucker, spanoulis, etc.

luther · 06-21-2008, 08:56 PM

Again, I would never question that the NBA has superior talent to Europe. I didn't say so, and I wouldn't say so. But there are players in Europe who legitimately belong--talent-wise--in the NBA. Not as superstars, generally, but as prospects, as lower-level starters, as role players and yes, as benchwarmers. Not everyone. But plenty of guys. And regardless, Euroleague teams in particular are still better than the vast majority of Division I college teams. Then, add to that fact that not all high prospects even do particularly well in college, and what makes people think that a high level college recruit is guaranteed any kind of dominance? It just isn't the way it works out. A guy like Brandon Jennings hasn't proved anything except at an inferior level of competition: high school. Oak Hill, sure. But Rashad Carruth, anyone? Billy Edelin? Ty Lawson is a borderline first rounder, and he was called the best PG ever at Oak Hill by their coach, Steve Smith. So forgive me if I don't hand a high schooler--even as a Mcdonald's All American--his ticket to the Hall of Fame.

rocketeer · 06-21-2008, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luther

So forgive me if I don't hand a high schooler--even as a Mcdonald's All American--his ticket to the Hall of Fame.

he doesn't deserve that yet.

but there certainly would be tons of interest from european teams if he decides to go that route and i'm fairly certain that if given the chance he'd do pretty well there(not that you have necessarily ever said that wouldn't happen).

luther · 06-21-2008, 09:19 PM

Interest? Absolutely, 100% true. Definitely. And he'd have to be considered by any reasonable person one of the most talented people playing in Europe. But the question would be, is it worth it for a European team to hand the keys to a kid whose almost certain sole interest is spending one season with your club before bolting for the NBA? Would that player--a talented child, but a child--really be best for your team over some such as, say, Sarunas Jasikevicius, a fiery veteran leader who has the credentials to back up his ballsy rants? That's the issue. Talent is just one thing, but when you're trying to maintain a program, renting one year of a talented but quite possibly not ready kid is a risky situation.

**bball2223** · 06-21-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luther

I don't mean to knock Jennings too hard, by the way, but he's a McDonald's All-American, a top recruit. Unless I'm mistaken (and this is off the top of my head), these guys were also McDonalds All Americans: Travis Watson, Bracey Wright, Darius Washington, Trajan Langdon, Scoonie Penn, Loren Woods, Kenny Gregory, James white, Chuck Eidson, Will Bynum, Marcus Fizer, Kennedy Winston, Dajuan Wagner, and Louis bullock.

I agree with everything you have said Luther, but none of the guys you mentioned (outside of Dajuan Wagner) were as talented as Brandon Jennings was coming out of High School. DaJuan Wagner was on his way to being a solid player in the NBA until he got hurt. Had he not gotten hurt he probably would be starting alongside LeBron James right now in the NBA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by luther

Do you really think he has even 1/10th the hype that someone like Darius Washington or Dajuan Wagner had as a lead guard?

Hype? If Hype meant anything Ron Pawlus would have won 4 Heisman trophies at Notre Dame. Who gives a **** about hype? Brandon Jennings was a much more talented PG prospect than either coming out of High School. DaJuan Wagner was just as good as Jennings scoring the ball but when it came to Ball-handling and distributing Wagner and Washington can't even begin to sniff Jenning's jock. Jennings is a pure Point Guard while Wagner and Washington were both combo guards (both more so small shooting guards).

You do make valid points and you are much more knowledgable about European basketball than I am. I was off-base by saying Jennings would dominate and I apologize for that. How much playing time do you think he would receive if he did play in Europe next year?

**bball2223** · 06-21-2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luther

Interest? Absolutely, 100% true. Definitely. And he'd have to be considered by any reasonable person one of the most talented people playing in Europe. But the question would be, is it worth it for a European team to hand the keys to a kid whose almost certain sole interest is spending one season with your club before bolting for the NBA? Would that player--a talented child, but a child--really be best for your team over some such as, say, Sarunas Jasikevicius, a fiery veteran leader who has the credentials to back up his ballsy rants? That's the issue. Talent is just one thing, but when you're trying to maintain a program, renting one year of a talented but quite possibly not ready kid is a risky situation.

I agree 100%. BTW Jasikevicius is one of my favorite players to watch. I agree with Jennings it is a risky situation. What level of European ball would be best for him to explore if he does make that decision? The elite competition or a smaller league where he would get more time.

luther · 06-21-2008, 09:44 PM

The reason I mention hype is that, to an extent, all of this is hype with Jennings so far because he hasn't done anything of note yet against consistently good competition in an organized environment. A good high school schedule is hardly the same thing as a professional season! A prospect is, in effect, nothing much but hype. (But don't knock Ron Powlus, man ... I had my heart set on him as a lifelong N.D. lover) As for Jennings's playing time, it would totally depend on where he lands. In the right situation, a team could market him as a "big name American prospect" and play him big minutes. Some cranky coach (think euro Larry Brown) could make him an 11th man. Or he could be anywhere in between. Talent-wise, he would rank among the top half-dozen point guards in Euroleague.

**bball2223** · 06-21-2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luther

The reason I mention hype is that, to an extent, all of this is hype with Jennings so far because he hasn't done anything of note yet against consistently good competition in an organized environment. A good high school schedule is hardly the same thing as a professional season! A prospect is, in effect, nothing much but hype. (But don't knock Ron Powlus, man ... I had my heart set on him as a lifelong N.D. lover) As for Jennings's playing time, it would totally depend on where he lands. In the right situation, a team could market him as a "big name American prospect" and play him big minutes. Some cranky coach (think euro Larry Brown) could make him an 11th man. Or he could be anywhere in between. Talent-wise, he would rank among the top half-dozen point guards in Euroleague.

Your an ND fan too? Man oh man i'm sorry to bring up Pawlus I had hopes for him too. But thanks for the info hopefully Jennings lands in a quality situation because with the talent over there it would benefit him a lot.

luther · 06-21-2008, 09:49 PM

If I were a betting man I'd say he's going to end up at ... Arizona.

**bball2223** · 06-21-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luther

If I were a betting man I'd say he's going to end up at ... Arizona.

After the knowledge you imparted I agree that would probably be best for him.

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