Jaime makes a very good point about Brandon Jennings, who backed out of his commitment to Arizona to go play in Europe.
I agree with Jaime, Jennings’ decision will be the exception, not the norm.
If you don’t want to run into the issues that O.J. Mayo ran into, don’t. Keep your nose clean for half a year, play the game, and then get on the carpet and ride.
Even in the day and age of webcasts and streaming broadcasts, Euro leagues just don’t have the exposure of the NCAA level (including the Pac-10′s brutal TV contract).
And they never will.
Ever since David Stern changed the draft-eligible age, the fan’s interest in superior high school basketball players has wholly migrated back to how it affects NCAA recruiting, and not whether or not they can make the leap to the League.
When LeBron was at St. Vincent–St. Mary HS , there were an abnormal number of high school games being shown on cable sports networks. Now, those same networks have switched their focus to All-American-type games where every graphic about a player includes which college each player is going to (they are “Duke” and “Other”).
Brandon, I hope you’re the real deal. Conor can tell you that you’re passing on a privilege… playing on CBS in March, and maybe April (probably just March at UofA, though).
But, I’m sure the chicks hanging out outside the CSKA Moscow locker room are right on par with the incoming freshman in Tucson. And I’ll bet it’ll be 75 and sunny leaving the gym. I think they throw great day parties at Sigma Venezia Roma, and the Maccabi Tel Aviv tailgates are supposed to be off the hook.
We’ll be sure to send Kevin Bacon to come get you in time for the Nooba draft.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
To me, Brandon Jennings going to Europe is bothersome. I don’t think it will affect college basketball or the NCAA Tournament, other than there will be one less player in college. It hurts Arizona because they have lost what appears to be a good player. Other than that, no effect. College basketball does not rely on quality of play. It’s all about competition between the schools and fan support and enthusiasm.
A few years ago, when high school players were just starting to go directly into the NBA, I had the opportunity to speak with Jim Boeheim, the Hall of Fame coach of Syracuse U. We were at the Las Vegas AAU summer tournaments watching some of the best prospects in the country. Coach Boeheim felt that these young players leaving early wasn’t going to hurt college basketball, but it could very well hurt the NBA. He felt that that many of these young players wouldn’t be ready, but they were still going to get paid a lot of money. Not much bang for the buck, so to speak. A very expensive apprenticeship program. I agree with him totally. In many cases the NBA teams have been hurt. I also believe that fewer of the really good players in college may actually help the competition because it puts more teams onto a level playing field. Teams that cannot attract the best recruits, can now compete because their players stay around and get experience. Seniors vs freshman. That evens things up.
So what is bothersome to me about Jennings going to Europe? I think it is very risky sending a young kid to Europe to play. A long way from home, a different environment, not a lot of supervision. During my many years in the NBA, I saw too many young players go down the wrong path. Many times off-the-court happenings will shorten careers.
A few years ago the NBA started a Rookie program to help the young guys get acclimated to the league, and life in the NBA. The program talks about the pitfalls a rookie faces, and how to avoid them. I believe the program has been a very good thing. Many of these players need the help. They are young, some are immature, on their own, after years of being coddled. Many do not have a good support system around them. Competition in the NBA is tough enough without outside forces causing trouble.
I do not know Brandon Jennings. He may be just fine and will handle going to Europe great. But Europe is a different animal than the NBA. They are less patient with the foreign player. They want that player to produce immediately. No apprenticeship program.
Also, if this sets a precedence for more players taking this path, odds are some of them will run into trouble. Suffice it to say, that the NBA didn’t start their program, with its expense, without good reason and concern.
{ 1 trackback }