OT: Think the dam has broken for high school hoop players...

[bwifan]

With the recent NBA draft and so many foreign players being drafted high many speculated that you would now see a ground swell of high school players going overseas to play in pro leagues rather than go to college. Many feel that why lock yourself into a coaches "system" and be dependent on lesser talent to showcase your abilities. When you can go overseas and play in the pro leagues and really work and refine your game full time not be restricted by limited hours by ncaa rule/coaches systems/talent. Well 5* recruit Terrance Ferguson just announced he will not be playing at Arizona and is now heading overseas to play this season. I agree that I think you are going to see more and more players opt to go overseas to continue to work on their game. Those leagues are scouted just as much as college games are here. NBA teams are now comfortable drafting players from those leagues. Think we will see more and more of this... Could end up hurting the college game long term.

 

[LionJim]

Good. Earning a living doing what you do best, that's the American way.

 

[manatree]

I'd be very happy if more high school kids did this. It might just allow a few kids to get a college basketball scholarship that actually want to go to college.

 

[AWS1022]

I'd be very happy if more high school kids did this. It might just allow a few kids to get a college basketball scholarship that actually want to go to college.

Definitely. Same as a minor league system and keeps these kids out of college since they don't really want to be there anyway.

 

[Cletus11]

Probably a good thing. Anybody going over to Europe was one and done anyway and that is what is wrong with college BBall. Only issue I see with it is that these are 18-19 year old kids going over to a foreign country to live by themselves. College is reasonably structured and familiar, but moving to Europe is a whole different situation.

 

[royboy]

For the top kids, going overseas can be a viable option, and I'm glad it's available.

Still, there are reasons why they would want to go to a US college program for one year:
visibility on TV, which they like and can help them build a brand for future marketing purposes
the lure of the NCAA Tournament
a lifestyle that can be comfortable and more familiar than being in a foreign country
the college experience in general (granted, some are not academically talented or motivated)

Just my guess, but I think the numbers going overseas out of high school will rise, but still be fairly small.

 

[manatree]

Just my guess, but I think the numbers going overseas out of high school will rise, but still be fairly small.

Considering that most oversea leagues have roster limits on foreigners, or non- European, Asian, etc. citizenship, the numbers will remain small. Some Americans that do play abroad, do so as a dual citizenship, like Pete Lisicky, who had a great, great, some sort of relative that allowed him to obtain a passport for a European country and would not count agains the foreign limit for most European leagues.

 

[dawgduice]

I'd be very happy if more high school kids did this. It might just allow a few kids to get a college basketball scholarship that actually want to go to college.

What is wrong with you, LOL

 

[LemonEars]

For the top kids, going overseas can be a viable option, and I'm glad it's available.

Still, there are reasons why they would want to go to a US college program for one year:
visibility on TV, which they like and can help them build a brand for future marketing purposes
the lure of the NCAA Tournament
a lifestyle that can be comfortable and more familiar than being in a foreign country
the college experience in general (granted, some are not academically talented or motivated)

Just my guess, but I think the numbers going overseas out of high school will rise, but still be fairly small.

As soon as overseas leagues get a TV contract, NCAA basketball as we know it will be dead!

 

[dawgduice]

Well, given that most of these kids have "limited" support it would be very scary to leave the U.S. What inner city kid would go to Turkey ?? That being said, over time (a long time) that will happen more and more. It's ALL about adults that can be "trusted" to help them. Actually, a GREAT business opportunity for a group LIKE IMG They could, or another group, provide a service to help place these kids that do NOT belong in College. Sort of like a BASKETBALL travel agency. Serous - make a web site, print up brochures and partner with the overseas leagues !!! DAMN I"M GOOD !!!! You could probably get money from the NBA as well.

 

[BVSt.Paul]

Play in Europe and kiss goodbye your chance for a Jim Nantz tie.

 

[bwifan]

Well, given that most of these kids have "limited" support it would be very scary to leave the U.S. What inner city kid would go to Turkey ?? That being said, over time (a long time) that will happen more and more. It's ALL about adults that can be "trusted" to help them. Actually, a GREAT business opportunity for a group LIKE IMG They could, or another group, provide a service to help place these kids that do NOT belong in College. Sort of like a BASKETBALL travel agency. Serous - make a web site, print up brochures and partner with the overseas leagues !!! DAMN I"M GOOD !!!! You could probably get money from the NBA as well.

I will have to learn more about the foreign leagues. See if there is a minimum contract etc... My bro in law represents a bunch of american players that play in foreign leagues so I will have to get the low down from him. He travels over through out Europe several times a year seeing u.s. players play in all the overseas leagues. The biggest problem he said over there are the owners. If they don't feel like paying their players that week they don't. They just hold onto the money. Players have very little leg to stand on to get the money owed them. Could be several weeks until they get paid. Interesting enough though many players are paid very well to play overseas. Those guys actually do quite well playing over there.

 

[BobPSU92]

Good. Earning a living doing what you do best, that's the American way.

Even if you do it outside of America (at least for awhile).

 

[BobPSU92]

What is wrong with you, LOL

He obviously isn't a Penn Stater since we have a culture problem.

 

[royboy]

I will have to learn more about the foreign leagues. See if there is a minimum contract etc... My bro in law represents a bunch of american players that play in foreign leagues so I will have to get the low down from him. He travels over through out Europe several times a year seeing u.s. players play in all the overseas leagues. The biggest problem he said over there are the owners. If they don't feel like paying their players that week they don't. They just hold onto the money. Players have very little leg to stand on to get the money owed them. Could be several weeks until they get paid. Interesting enough though many players are paid very well to play overseas. Those guys actually do quite well playing over there.

Yeah, as I think about this, I don't see a big jump in kids going from high school overseas to play:

1. The big money (and attraction) is the NBA, so the idea is to get to the NBA as soon as possible, which would be after one year overseas (unless the rules change.) So the foreign teams are going to give big contracts to a kid that is one-and-done to them?

2. Those foreign leagues are better than most people realize. 18 or 19 year old kids, even the best of the American prospects, are not going to dominate those leagues. Yet another reason why the teams are not going to pay a big pile of money.

3. TV contract for the foreign leagues? Well, maybe, but I doubt they'd be all that popular.

4. We already have the D-League here; it's a legitimate developmental situation and can grow somewhat. However, there's not a big TV audience or a fan audience; following a minor league basketball team is not as interesting as following your own favorite college team, especially if the teams are just as transitional or more than college programs.

 

[dawgduice]

I will have to learn more about the foreign leagues. See if there is a minimum contract etc... My bro in law represents a bunch of american players that play in foreign leagues so I will have to get the low down from him. He travels over through out Europe several times a year seeing u.s. players play in all the overseas leagues. The biggest problem he said over there are the owners. If they don't feel like paying their players that week they don't. They just hold onto the money. Players have very little leg to stand on to get the money owed them. Could be several weeks until they get paid. Interesting enough though many players are paid very well to play overseas. Those guys actually do quite well playing over there.

Ask him IF he likes my idea ??? Before I copyright it
The REAL challenge is building trust with these kids and their "families". That can be challenging. Although imagine if you partnered with a few retired NBA guys to help build that relationship. Maybe have parents "sign" an agreement and start paying the kids in their Junior year of HS. Remember a ton of colleges have already pushed their coaches and agenda on them before they are juniors !!!
Hell you could even have them play for these teams as a HS junior, all you need is a tudor to complete their HS education. All of this is a reach but given the amount of MONEY involved it is worth looking into. All of this makes some sense given the number of overseas players drafted. I only see that number growing. I can role play, IF I were one of these kids OVERSEAS would be for me vs a year in Kentucky, Kansas, Durham ???? Save me PLEASE

 

[Cletus11]

Yeah, as I think about this, I don't see a big jump in kids going from high school overseas to play:

1. The big money (and attraction) is the NBA, so the idea is to get to the NBA as soon as possible, which would be after one year overseas (unless the rules change.) So the foreign teams are going to give big contracts to a kid that is one-and-done to them?

2. Those foreign leagues are better than most people realize. 18 or 19 year old kids, even the best of the American prospects, are not going to dominate those leagues. Yet another reason why the teams are not going to pay a big pile of money.

3. TV contract for the foreign leagues? Well, maybe, but I doubt they'd be all that popular.

4. We already have the D-League here; it's a legitimate developmental situation and can grow somewhat. However, there's not a big TV audience or a fan audience; following a minor league basketball team is not as interesting as following your own favorite college team, especially if the teams are just as transitional or more than college programs.

Good point #1. What foreign team is going to give a big contract to an 19 year old kid they know at best is their for 2 years and most likely one. Not like some 19 year old kid is going to be a huge draw in Europe. And not like any 19 year old kid in the US cannot get $$$ from AAU agents to goto college in the US for a year. So in the end, I don't see $$$ being a draw for a kid to goto Europe. More a kid that really has his head on his shoulders and thinks that he has a better chance of developing his game in Europe for a year or two than in college.

 

[Art]

Nothing new here. Jeremy Tyler, Brandon Jennings, and Emmanuel Mudiay all jumped from HS to overseas pro leagues. Didn't hurt either Jennings or Mudiay in the NBA draft. Even Tyler was picked 39th.

 

[Art]

Good point #1. What foreign team is going to give a big contract to an 19 year old kid they know at best is their for 2 years and most likely one. Not like some 19 year old kid is going to be a huge draw in Europe. And not like any 19 year old kid in the US cannot get $$$ from AAU agents to goto college in the US for a year. So in the end, I don't see $$$ being a draw for a kid to goto Europe. More a kid that really has his head on his shoulders and thinks that he has a better chance of developing his game in Europe for a year or two than in college.

Certainly most kids coming out of HS won't be attractive to foreign professional teams. But Brandon Jennings got $1.7mm to play in Italy (and a $2mm UnderAmour deal) and Emmanuel Mudiay $1.2 top play in China. That beats college ball....unless they were going to Kentucky.