I normally reserve this spot for an athlete who is doing something good to uplift his community and maintain a sense of awareness with what is relevant in their environment.
This feature will be a little different, because the following athlete is becoming a revolutionary in the sport of basketball. Specifically for those forced to go college for a year before being able to play in the NBA.
Brandon Jennings will go down in history. He has found a crack in the armor of David Stern and the NCAA.
Jennings, who had trouble qualifying for school because of standardized tests, has opted to play in Europe for a year before entering the 2009 NBA Draft, presumably. The kid is talented and would have been exciting to watch in college, but his hopes are a little bigger. David Stern and Myles Brand are probably both in their offices plotting the next "hook-boogey" move to prevent something like this from happening.
By Jennings exposing the loophole in the rule created by Stern, he would be able to wiggle around wasting Lute Olsen and the Arizona Wildcats time by not going at all. By playing in Europe, he will be paid pretty nicely and be taken care of. Plus, he gets to hone his skills on the international stage, which would silent all these whack draft experts who will doubt him next summer.
I see the age-limit rule as a way to make sure that Brand's foundation would not be compromised. By Stern throwing Brand a bone, Brand would be able to ensure that the cash cow known as the NCAA will continue to prosper, even if for a year. Brand figures it will keep the game fresh. But if last night's draft proves anything, we will continue to have double-digit numbers of freshman being selected in the first-round.
I believe anything else that prevents someone from entering the NBA, such as the age rule, would be unconstitutional. I didnt get excited about the draft because my gut feeling is that a lot of these guys will be playing in the D-League all-star game this upcoming season, instead of competing for a National Championship.
I applaud Jennings for his creativity in pursuing his dreams. He is a trendsetter. But I wonder what kind of backlash the trend will receive when these coaches who are being paid top dollar, can't land a top recruit because he is enticed by the opportunity to play in a foreign country and doesnt have to deal with going to classes he doesnt want to be in.
Brand and Stern will more than likely be having lunch next week to discuss their next strategy in securing total Hoop-acracy.
i love it. this young man has found a loophole to prevent his explotation
What is up with the hair though?
YOU ARE SO RIGHT. KIDS DREAMS ARE TO PLAY IN THE NBA NOT PLAY IN COLLEGE. FRESHMEN ARE THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL OR MAYBE EVEN FOREIGN PLAYER IN THE NBA DRAFT. AND YOUR RIGHT I WOULD GO TO EUROPE ONE YEAR BALL UP AND GET PAID AND THEN GO TO THE DRAFT. THE NCAA IS AFFECTED THE MOST CUZ THEY CANT MAKE MONEY OFF PLAYER ON THERE SOPHOMORE YEARS PROMOTING THERE TALENTS AND MATCHUPS CUZ THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE LEAGUE THE NCAA IS THE NEW NBA PRE DRAFT CAMP BUT LONGER FOR SOME OF THESE KIDS WHO SHOULD HAVE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE LEAGUE OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
F350 OUT
do not. be so sure the euros are going to go gaga over non-shooting american high schoolers.i have read they want shooters over there, not 3 point chuckers and dunkers with no mid range game
Amen, satch. Does this guy actually have a contract to play overseas, or is he just trying to get in over there? Say what you want about the Euros softness, but they actually learn how to play over there and not just dunk.