College or Overseas

[atlwarrior]

Okay do you guys think more players should play overseas out of high school? It seems to have worked really well with brandon jennings. Or do u guys think players should con't going to college?

[Andrew]

I can definitely see more players following in Brandon Jennings footsteps. Still, just because it's worked out for him doesn't mean it's the right situation for everybody; I do see it becoming a viable alternative for players who would've preferred to make the jump right out of high school or cannot/will not go to college for whatever reason.

[JaoSming]

I wouldnt mind seeing more players do it. I mean you can use the excuse that they won't "learn" anything since they dont goto college, but you can take some really, really easy classes in colleges.

What I'd like to see is some more Euroleague coverage over here in the US if more HS prospects go over.

[benji]

I wouldnt mind seeing more players do it. I mean you can use the excuse that they won't "learn" anything since they dont goto college, but you can take some really, really easy classes in colleges.

Considering how few of them actually attend classes or actually do the classwork, and pull the "one and done" there isn't really a difference.

Especially when they're majoring in things like "Physical Education" or "African-American Studies" for that one year.

[Oznogrd]

Dont forget communications benji.

Also dont forget their varsity tutors doing their work for them.

Anyway: its all on the person. Some of these kids I think would need the transitional help to live a life by themselves. To not be living with Mom and Dad and providing for themself. For some: college eases that transition. For others: they're ready to go right out of high school and might be ok by themselves in europe.

[Fresh8]

The overseas experiment would require a really really thick skin. Not many high school players would be targeted and out of that small number, I would imagine only a few of them would be able to survive it. Being in a foreign country at such a young age, practising as much as those teams do, playing against men, and then maybe not even getting minutes might break some young guys.

[Andrew]

Not many high school players would be targeted and out of that small number, I would imagine only a few of them would be able to survive it.

That's a good point, which is why I don't see college being phased out or going to Europe being an option for every player coming out of high school. I think most will stick to the established path of high school, college, pros (via the D-League if necessary).

[The X]

I can't see a lot of top Euro teams wanting to invest a year (or two) just to not only develop a kid, but pay him at the same time, whilst he's not helping you win ball games.

Of course if the kid is a freak like Lebron James then that's a different story.

[Andrew]

That too, it's not going to be an option for everyone. But Brandon Jennings might just have opened the door.

[Hoyasaxa]

Jennings is an example of a success, but Jeremy Tyler isn't doing so amazingly in Israel with Maccabi Haifa. He isn't fitting into the pro league too great as an 18 year old who's only used to being the #1 player on the court...and foreign play isn't as high-profile for U.S. scouts so his draft value will take a hit...

[Andrew]

If the NBA isn't willing to abolish the age limit and allow players to make the jump from high school to the big time, perhaps they should make allowances for players to go straight from high school to the D-League (I'm assuming they don't already).

[shadowgrin]

Some of these kids I think would need the transitional help to live a life by themselves. To not be living with Mom and Dad and providing for themself. For some: college eases that transition. For others: they're ready to go right out of high school and might be ok by themselves in europe.

I think Jennings was with his uncle and dad during his stint in Europe.

Jeremy Tyler isn't doing so amazingly in Israel with Maccabi Haifa. He isn't fitting into the pro league too great as an 18 year old who's only used to being the #1 player on the court...and foreign play isn't as high-profile for U.S. scouts so his draft value will take a hit...

Aren't that the same thing people said with Brandon Jennings when his stats in Europe weren't that 'good' and not getting enough playing time there?