re: Why shouldn't High School Kids head to Europe and play instead of the NBA?

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“It was a great opportunity for me to come over here in what’s relatively thought of as the second-best league in the world,” Hummel says. “Next year, the plan is going to be to try and make the Timberwolves, but I think [playing overseas] is just a good way to experience good basketball.”

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“High-level major college basketball is a level below the play here in the ACB just because you’re playing against guys that are 30 years old and have so much experience,” Hummel says.

“You are playing against guys that have been playing professionally for 10, 12 years,” Singler adds. “The skill levels of those guys are higher than those in college, so you’re playing against good competition.”

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Brandon Jennings, who likely would’ve thrived as a top scorer for the Arizona Wildcats if he’d played college basketball, instead worked on other aspects of his game in the Italian Lega A. The point guard only averaged 5.5 points per game and shot 35.1% from the field in 27 games, but he credits the season as one that immensely prepared him for the following year.

“Once I got to the NBA, I wasn’t nervous or anything like that,” he says. “You got to think — the hostile environment that I played in overseas was nothing like how it’s here in the States. I knew [I'd improved] when I actually got into the NBA workouts and had to try out with teams — the fact that I knew how to play the pick and roll better than a lot of other guards … I think my mindset was totally different.”

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“For rookies or first-year guys who go overseas, it can be tough,” Singler admits. “For me, I embraced the idea of it being kind of different. Every day was just a new experience, and I just really enjoyed that.”

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More importantly, though, his overseas experience laid the foundation for his NBA career. And that opportunity is something that Jennings wouldn’t trade for anything.

“It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life,” he says. “I would never regret it.”

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LINK

I would 100% do this

Several have, however, the article only interviews a handful

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So not only would a high school kid get paid in Europe, they could sign their first shoe deal and become a millionaire quickly

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They arent in high school anymore. It would be a college kid getting paid.

And I completely understand what you are saying. But nothing has stopped them from doing this already, yet barely any do it. And college is FUN. Especially for athletes, even more so for big time athletes. You are treated like a KING on campus.

And, there is always the chance that a big time high school prospect is over rated and just isnt that good. Hes on scholarship and in school. If he isnt that good and unlikely to make it to the NBA, he is on scholarship and can graduate with a degree from a good school in America, for free. If that same player went over to Europe and just flopped, what does he do now? If he wants to go back to school, he would have to pay for it, and wouldnt have the same resources that college athletes have like tutors, sessions with teachers, etc. They rarely have to actually be in class. Not every big prospect makes it to the NBA. Few actually do. Look at Jeremy Tyler.

And even though nothing stops them from doing this right now, barely any people do it. Jennings was the 1st American player to skip college and play over seas. If it was such a no brainer like you make it out to be, you would think more players would do this.

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and actually play against better competition?

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College basketball competition is better competition than Euro pros

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There are a lot of flaws in the Euro style of basketball. There is a trend of guys who lose complete confidence in their jump shooting ability over there because of how the coaches there treat substitutions.

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I know nothing about it. Could you elaborate a little more on that?

Deron Williams got his jersey retired after 15 games in Turkey. The video makes me crack up so much, its like he is a god to them

DWill

Double post

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If the NBA changes the rule on 1 and done, what prevents more of the Top players from heading to Europe to get paid for 2 years, rather than going to classes they never plan on finishing?

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I know I didn't play basketball, but I was immature as hell at 17 and would have imploded in Europe.

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I may be wrong but aren't they allowed to go to the NBA D league for a year out of high school? It seems that'd be more popular because you get to stay in the states

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I'm not sure about that. I don't think you can.

With all the starving college athletes i am surprised it doesn't happen more often