Will A High Schooler Ever Choose Euro Basketball Over NCAA?

[SendEm]

I have been pondering this question ever since the NBA mandated that all American players must be atleast 19 years of age and attend college for a year in order be eligible for the NBA draft while European players can just simply be 18 years of age.

Why hasn't the automatic decison for these American high school players been to play professionally over in Europe after they graduate high school? They will get paid significant money while learning the game from great coaches and veteran teammates while going up against the best players in the world not in the NBA.

NBA scouting is large over in Europe especially in the Spanish league. It has already been proven that a player can come to America from overseas and receive major endorsement deals so I doubt that an American player choosing college over Europe in order to build their name in America is too relevant.

This becoming a trend will begin to destroy much of the shady activity that goes on in AAU basketball, college recruitment, boosters, players from poor families needing money, high school players attending prep schools, etc.

A college education is a wonderful tool to have in life but these 6'6" elite basketball athletes fully intend to play basketball as a career whether in the NBA or abroad. The best of these players will only attend college for the 1 season that the NBA mandates if all goes well for them on the court their freshman year. So college basketball is truly nothing but a minor league where players aren't being paid while at the same time are being restricted with how much money they can earn when not playing basketball or being a student.

Since the NBDL refused to be the true minor league that it was put into position to be, I believe that these High School basketball players should choose to go overseas and get paid while developing their games. This is really pertaining to the top 20 type high school players or any high school player that a European team is actually willing to pay a salary.

[ISB]

First of all, unless it's a Kevin Durant or Michael Beasley level talent it's debatable how much a Euroleague level team would even want a raw 18 year old.

Secondly, the only reason a player would make this choice is because he absolutely wants money NOW. From an injury risk stand point Europe is just as much of a risk as the NCAA if not more. A 1 year contract in Europe is not going to set you up for life the way the NBA first round pay scale would.

Also big time college basketball is HUGE in the US. Much bigger than even the highest level of basketball in Europe. So while big time players are hesitant to risk their health playing extended time in college, most players still grow up with a dream of playing NCAA basketball.

I don't doubt that there will be some kid he makes this decision at some point though. Maybe I guy from an ultra poor family, or a guy who wasn't able to qualify academically for NCAA D1 ball, etc. But I wouldn't expect that to ever become the standard choice.

I also think a player might be more likely to play in an American minor basketball league than to bother with traveling to Europe and living alone in a foreign continent. Again I think it would be worth it only if we are talking about a Michael Beasley type who could go to Europe for a single year and get paid in the millions.

[GJense4181]

Can a player go straight to the NBDL?

[NetsForce]

They're probably enamored by the typical american college athlete's life...

[Dtown84]

I believe a player can go straight to the NBDL, but unless they are in so desperate a financial situation that they can't wait a year I have no idea why they would.

Really any high school player good enough to warrant any kind of scouting attention from the pros can 1: Get a scholarship to play for a big school, which means television and exposure. 2: Provided they live up to their talent can expect a big fat check from the NBA one year later.

Aside from instant money (which will likely be less than what they could get if they wait a year) there's really no incentive.

[prekazi]

Even if your name is LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony or Dwyane Wade, you'll have huge problems adjusting to Euroleague. I am not sure if top Euro teams will be interested in unexperienced players and also I am not sure that American kids will be interested to play in Europe(away from home, hostile arenas, totally different game) at the age of 18. College ball is all kid's dream and considering many players learn the real game in college, it's really helpful for their further career(whereever they play).

Can you imagine a LeBron type serious hyped great potential kid going straight to Euro and averaging 7pts 3reb 2ast? It won't help his Nba dreams.

[TheOUTLAW]

The only way that LeBron would have averaged that little is if he didn't play. Which is of course a possibility in the euroleagues where younger players often sit. However, they'd totally have to come up with different contracts in order to ever entice a talented high school player. No way would a agent allow an american kid with NBA aspiration sign a contract that they'd have to buy out on the back end.

[bryant08]

If a player wants to go to a certain team, is there anyway to bypass the draft and sign a contract that isn't limited? Like let's say I'm so pro at ball I am the concensus 1st overall. Can I not declare for the draft, sign with a D-League team, then head to my favourite NBA team on a contract larger than a rookie scale? There's gotta be 100 things wrong with that, but it's just an idiotic late night thought that entered my head.

[SendEm]

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS CAN NOT SIGN DIRECTLY TO A NBDL TEAM!

Also American players with scoring ability always do well in Europe. Historically American players have been signed to be a teams leading scorer and best athlete.

Lynn Greer averaged 27 points per game his first year in Europe after 4 years of college. He is a 6'00 guard from Temple University. I see no reason why a top notch NBA prospect couldn't produce in Europe. The USA basketball teams have proven that American team basketball doesn't translate well internationally, but individually American players can have their way with the poor defensive abilities of European players.

I believe that Beasley could easily average atleast 20 points in Europe in any of those leagues. Their 3 point line is shortened which is a plus.

[deeney0]

Can a player go straight to the NBDL?

No.

[Dtown84]

Even without being able to go straight to the NBDL (which honestly has little to no appeal anyway), I don't see any appeal in Europe, and I don't see the appeal for them. There's a huge difference in experience of a four year college player and a kid out of high school, and any of the really talented players will want to go to the NBA in a year or two anyway.

[FlightNo.23]

I doubt it unless a European team offers a few million dollars for a 1-year contract.

[andyhop]

I'd think it likely that sooner or later it will happen.

Some European ,probably Russian, team will offer the next "LeBron" a one year deal for a few million dollars and have them accept thinking that they might as well make some serious money whilst they wait to be elligible for the draft.

As long as the first guy doesn't trash his draft position by being a bit out of sight it could easily become the norm.

[Moses_Malone95]

A high schooler doesn't have the credentials to impress European teams. Plus, if one of them happened to get over there, 9 times out of 10 they couldn't handle the competition. Not every high school player is like Lebron James. Some need seasoning.

[Buckeye-NBAFan]

Kosta Koufos thought about signing with a Euro team out of high school, and he could even leave Ohio State for a Euro team this year, although that's a real long shot behind either going pro or staying at OSU.

I don't see a black athlete going to Europe, but if there are Euro kids like Kosta (although Kosta's not really Euro since he was born here to American parents, but he played for the Greece U19 team), I could see a guy like that leaving for Euro for a year or two potentially. Maybe even stay in Europe until he becomes eligible for free agency in the NBA, because you can get a Euro contract that pays much better than a rookie scale contract considering the strength of the Euro and no income tax.

[Buckeye-NBAFan]

As long as the first guy doesn't trash his draft position by being a bit out of sight it could easily become the norm.

Europe isn't out of sight any more for NBA teams.

[Cammo101]

I only see it happening with a guy who can not qualify academically. Despite what some are saying, there is 10 or so freshman a year who Euro teams would love to have.

[pewing33ny]

not a bad question

another reason is the free education that colleges will offer. there are only 50 or so players each year that declare and that will actually get contracts and make a team. i'm sure there are thousdands of full scholarships handed out every year and the bench warmers who will never play again after college will get a free college education and all the ass they could ever want. plus they don't even have to study in college because the professors probably give them all easy A's.

with the lebrons of the world, euroteams probably wouldn't want someone that inexperienced. on top of that they only get to keep the player for 1 year, so what's the point of even developing them for their style. the young euro players have been groomed for euro style so it's not that big of a deal for them.

[AbdicatedReign]

This is an interesting question. I'd nuance it and ask this one: what if LeBron was a senior in high school this year? Would he go overseas? What if he didn't qualify?

[Cammo101]

This is an interesting question. I'd nuance it and ask this one: what if LeBron was a senior in high school this year? Would he go overseas? What if he didn't qualify?

LeBron was plenty smart enough to qualify and would have gone to Ohio State most likely, though Euro teams would have lined up to sign him.