The New Yorks Times ran a great piece on hoops phenom Brandon Jennings and how his decision to spurn the NCAA in favour of playing pro basketball in Europe has worked out thus far.
If you're not familiar with Jennings story, he's a 19-year 6-2 Point Guard out of Compton who was the consensus top-rated high school guard prospect. He played his last year of High School ball with Oak Hill Academy - the same prep school that counts it's alumni like a who's who list of basketball stars - Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, Rajon Rando, Josh Smith. He signed a letter of intent to play College ball with the Arizona Wildcats before opting out and signing with Lottomatica Virtus Roma - a pro team in Italy.
Jennings is making $1.2 million in salary and endorsements in Italy, if he had stayed in the NCAA that amount would have been reduced to zero.
So how's it working out for him?
“I’ve gotten paid on time once this year,” Jennings said in an e-mail message. “They treat me like I’m a little kid. They don’t see me as a man. If you get on a good team, you might not play a lot. Some nights you’ll play a lot; some nights you won’t play at all. That’s just how it is.”
Jennings does not resemble the pioneer some envisioned when he left for Europe as a dynamic player who could create his own shots and score 20 points or more a game. In Italy, he said, he has been stifled offensively. He is averaging 8 points a game.“My role is to play D and take open shots — that’s it,” he said. “And I’ve accepted that role.”He acknowledged that the journey had helped him mature, and he said the rigors of playing in Europe may benefit others.
Jennings is a trailblazer (I'm not referring to Portland). There's no track record of a North American basketball prospect choosing Europe over NCAA. Jennings' tale brings to mind hockey phenom John Tavares.
If you recall Tavares challenged and failed to be designated NHL entry draft eligible last year. Tavares missed the NHL's draft age cutoff by 5 days. When his attempts to jump to the NHL early failed, the discussion of Tavares opting to go play pro hockey in Europe got louder.
What would have been if Tavares opted to go the Brandon Jennings route?
If you're not familiar with Jennings story, he's a 19-year 6-2 Point Guard out of Compton who was the consensus top-rated high school guard prospect. He played his last year of High School ball with Oak Hill Academy - the same prep school that counts it's alumni like a who's who list of basketball stars - Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, Rajon Rando, Josh Smith. He signed a letter of intent to play College ball with the Arizona Wildcats before opting out and signing with Lottomatica Virtus Roma - a pro team in Italy.
Jennings is making $1.2 million in salary and endorsements in Italy, if he had stayed in the NCAA that amount would have been reduced to zero.
So how's it working out for him?
“I’ve gotten paid on time once this year,” Jennings said in an e-mail message. “They treat me like I’m a little kid. They don’t see me as a man. If you get on a good team, you might not play a lot. Some nights you’ll play a lot; some nights you won’t play at all. That’s just how it is.”
Jennings does not resemble the pioneer some envisioned when he left for Europe as a dynamic player who could create his own shots and score 20 points or more a game. In Italy, he said, he has been stifled offensively. He is averaging 8 points a game.“My role is to play D and take open shots — that’s it,” he said. “And I’ve accepted that role.”He acknowledged that the journey had helped him mature, and he said the rigors of playing in Europe may benefit others.
Jennings is a trailblazer (I'm not referring to Portland). There's no track record of a North American basketball prospect choosing Europe over NCAA. Jennings' tale brings to mind hockey phenom John Tavares.
If you recall Tavares challenged and failed to be designated NHL entry draft eligible last year. Tavares missed the NHL's draft age cutoff by 5 days. When his attempts to jump to the NHL early failed, the discussion of Tavares opting to go play pro hockey in Europe got louder.
What would have been if Tavares opted to go the Brandon Jennings route?
