Cali HS b-ball player dropping out to play overseas

[JPanic]

http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool...ory?id=4090570

I actually think this is a good idea and wouldn't mind seeing more of it. The idea that these kids need to go to college to become "student athletes" is ridiculous. These kids get taken advantage of from their early teens through college by promoters and school officials looking to make a buck off of them and giving them little (in comparison) in return.

So why not leave high school now, get a paycheck from some Euro team, spend your next four years honing your game against better competition, learn what it's like to truly be away from home and become your own person, maybe even learn another language, then try the NBA draft in four years? If it doesn't work out, you'll probably have earned some good cash by then so you can come back and get your diploma and a college degree if you need. Or you can still make a good living playing ball overseas.

Plus, it would be interesting to see how much more NBA ready this kid will be after a few years of overseas ball than he would be playing in college. Because the college game barely even translates to the NBA game anymore. And basketball is so networked these days that if you're a good player, you WILL be found - regardless of where you play.

If this kid goes through with it and makes any kind of career for himself, be it in the NBA or overseas, I think he's going to start a trend...

[Darrin]

It is a terrible idea. The thought of giving a teenager that kind of money is retarded. Do you really believe that this kid is going to manage his money well, and put some away so that he can go to college later?

Also, the success rate for kids who skip college to go to the NBA is next to 0. Who has made it? KG, Lebron, and Kobe. Nearly all of the others have filed miserably. A teenager is not ready physically or emotionally to deal with life in the NBA. The few that have made it are the exception to the rule. They should have to play 3 years in college just like the NFL. There is a HUGE maturity difference between 18 and 21.

[PeteFitz]

You can't prevent a dude from making a living.

If you can smoke, fuck, kill someone in another land for the sake of liberty, you can go get a job playing basketball.

Is it a great idea? Probably not, but get used to it.

Dirk started playing professional when he was 14. You can still buy Traci Lords videos over there too. They roll a little different in europe.

I've also heard the structure helps the youngins adjust better then the nba. It isn't an 82 game thing, with ho chasing teammates. A little more nuturing.

Hell he'll probably learn more doing this, then in the basketweaving class he'd take at memphis anyway.

Th NFL thing is a physical maturity thing anyways. That is why they make them wait 3 years. No one, needs to wait on a persons emtional maturity. No other job does, so why should basketball have to.

[Hawkins]

If you've read Paul Shirley's book, you may know that the European team system isn't exactly a well-oiled machine

spend your next four years honing your game against better competition

I'm sorry, but he will not get better competition in two years in a European pro league than at Louisville. He won't get better coaching to hone what skills he has. Worst of all, a person with this mindset will not be happy playing a soft team style of ball that relies on team and passing.

Playing against young euros, over the hill or never could make it NBA'ers in a strange culture and environment isn't going to improve him as much as a power conference in NCAA.

If he wants the money, fine, but the "his skills will improve" thinking is a crapshoot at best.

I personally think this is coming from a place of fear, be it the classroom or draft stock.

He leaves for Europe while his draft stock is high, plays in Europe and doesn't really get micro analyzed since European basketball is different. If he fails, it's the culture shock or the style, not the talent, and still gets the big money lottery pick money.

He avoids all the pitfalls that could befall a #1 high school recruit who may not live up to potential (Damon Bailey anyone?)

[jimfath]

With any prospect there are a lot of unknowns.

At least by going to Europe he can get paid above the table.

[Eric Pedersen!]

I would go get paid.

[Darrin]

Originally Posted by PeteFitz

Th NFL thing is a physical maturity thing anyways. That is why they make them wait 3 years. No one, needs to wait on a persons emtional maturity. No other job does, so why should basketball have to.

He is a low post player who (in the million to one chance he makes it back to the NBA) will be banging with the likes of Shaq, KG, and Dwight Howard for a living... but it isn't about physical maturity? There is a world of difference in physical strength between a 17 year old kid and a 30 year old man. Those players in Europe are going to be twice as hard on him because he is going over expecting to be a star instantly.

I am not against a kid getting paid for whatever- but he is a kid... he is going to blow all of that money as soon as he gets it. Let's not pretend he is going to save it for a college education.

I fully expect him to fail miserably, and I look forward to him taking my order at Burger King one day.

[JPanic]

The kid is going to get paid well, but not amazingly well. I'm guessing some of the money will go back home to his family, too. And considering he's not going to be far away from the NBA lifestyle, I'm willing to bet he's going to be better with his money than you think.

As for the competition aspect, playing against pro players, regardless of league, will get you better faster than playing against college kids. The kid could go to Iceland and the players will be every bit as good or better than the American college system. Hell, if you look at a lot of Euro rosters, they have tons of former American college standouts on them.

And the coaching there will suit him fine if the NBA is his ultimate goal. We talk a lot about how great some college coaches are, but that's strictly for the college game. How many college coaches in the last 10-15 years have made successful transitions to NBA coaching? The coaching he'll get overseas will be closer to the NBA game than if he went to college.

[bron]

Strange that so many are admonishing this kid for taking a chance. Especially in the world of sports. Someone is willing to pay him good money and give him an opportunity to further pursue his dream AND career. We have no idea how this kid is going to handle his money. Nor should we care.

Another kid went to play in Europe about a year ago right after graduating HS. He made over a million dollars to live and play in Italy. He got it in his contract that the team buy him a place to live and he lives there with his mom. He's learning a pro style team game and playing with guys who are much older and more mature. How does that not prepare him for entry into the NBA?

[PeteFitz]

Originally Posted by Darrin

He is a low post player who (in the million to one chance he makes it back to the NBA) will be banging with the likes of Shaq, KG, and Dwight Howard for a living... but it isn't about physical maturity?

No it's not. Basketball is not a collision sport. Strength/Weight helps, but is not a prereq. No one is in danger of hurting themselves (physically) in the NBA do to Shaq's brutish strength. Football on the other hand does. That is why the three year wait. Because we all know, if the nfl could, they would draft a high schooler, if they thought he'd help. There is nothing out of bounds in the nfl.

Guys who come out of college are tiny too. Durant, Noah, Tyrus, Aldridge, to name a few. They all seem to do fine.