There are many people who predicted the slow death of college basketball after Brandon Jennings went to Europe instead of flunking out, I mean, going to college. Things ended up alright for him.

Let me present Jeremy Tyler, who was projected as potentially the #1 pick in the NBA draft the first year he was eligible. He was considered the best big man prospect since Greg Oden. He even went as far as skipping his senior year of high school and went to play professionally in Europe. http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=dw-tyler042209

He went to play in Israel, where he quit with 5 weeks left in the season and once refused to come out after half time to protest a lack of playing time. He then went to play in Japan, and has been averaging 15.6 minutes per game, 9.4 points and 6.2 rebounds.

He is currently projected as a second round NBA draft pick, though he may work his way into the first round. He went from being the likely #1 pick and probably at worst a lottery pick in a weak draft class to the very real possibility of a non-guaranteed contract and the D League.

Remember this the next time someone tells you that college basketball abuses these players and makes millions off of them while they get nothing in return. Remember this when someone tells you that the one and done rule is bad. Remember this when someone tells you that players are going to go to Europe instead of playing for free.

I'm sure if he could do it again, he'd be playing at Louisville waiting to collect his millions of dollars as a more developed and better player rather than the few hundred thousand he made and the prospect of never reaching one million dollars in career earnings.

It's been my opinion that the "going to Europe" thing has always been garbage. College basketball truly is the best option for virtually all high school players.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/sports/basketball/24recruit.html

Brandon Jennings basically said that it sucks. I bet if he could do it again, he would have tried harder to get eligible for the NCAA.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Good talk guys.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I agree with what you said. I don't know much on the topic myself, but it would seem like a better idea to stay in the country and work with people that will help simply keep you grounded and out of trouble for a year or two. Going over to Europe, these guys would probably have to develop much more independently, which could be a recipe for disaster for many players.

_________________

i thought the euro teams only played like 22 games or so in a season. no?

_________________

Judging by the fact that most high school students lack the mastery of the english language, I doubt they would be able to excel speaking Italian or Spanish in another country. And after visiting Europe myself with knowing very little of foreign languages, I can tell you that Europeans did not want to put up with my American english speaking bullshit. So no shit kids who go directly to Europe hate it.

Who is to say he wouldn't of been exposed in the college game? I don't have a problem with kids going overseas if they want to make money that's not under the table.

_________________

You can get around fine in most big European cities with no knowledge of the local language just as many immigrants do in the US.

The one issue that would give me concern is being paid on time.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I don't have a problem with anyone not going to play in the NCAA.

The thing is that some people make it seem like the NCAA forces these kids to come play for a year. They don't. They just offer the best deal and the best option for virtually every player.

I don't think he was exposed either. I think his development was hindered by having coaches that aren't prepared to deal with someone like him. Louisville is filled with coaches who are highly skilled in this. I think it helps to show the extra benefits that many of these one and done players get. They live an expense free lifestyle while being taught by some of the best experts at developing young players in the world. From the lack of playing time and the conflicts with the coaches it's clear that this player didn't receive that type of support.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

He ended up being the 39th pick in this years draft which means he cost himself millions of dollars and I believe has no shot at a guaranteed contract.

Yeah, but college players don't receive anything from the college experience if the goal is to be in the NBA.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I agree with your larger point, but I think we need a larger sample size here. Lots of highly touted high school players fizzle, including the one-and-dones (John Selby, for example).

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

That's true but I don't know if we'll ever get it. I guess it's possible if the one and done rule becomes a two and done rule and the barely literate players are exposed.

It's interesting to compare this guy to someone like Kosta Koufas who was a disappointment in college but still found a way to first round money.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Have you included the cultural experience of living in another country?

Just wondering

In what regard? The positive impact of experiencing a different culture or how difficult it is to adjust?

I think the difficulty of an 18 year old leaving their comfort zones is one of the biggest problems. However, I don't know if playing minor league basketball here in the states would be much better as the coaches have different motivations.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!