Brandon Jennings to sign in Europe.

[WesWesley]

Arizona signee Brandon Jennings has decided to make an unprecedented move to forgo playing in college and instead pursue a professional career in Europe next season before likely entering the 2009 NBA draft, Jenning's attorney, Jeff Valle, told ESPN.com on Tuesday night.

"Over the course of the last two months I have consulted a number of people in basketball before coming to this decision," Jennings said in a statement released through Valle. "I would like to thank the University of Arizona for their interest and support through this process."

Jennings, a Los Angeles native who played his final two high school seasons at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., was rated as the nation's top point guard in the class of 2008, according to ESPN.com.

Valle said Jennings will not even wait for his third standardized test result to see if he got a qualifying score after his second test was questioned by the NCAA. The results from the third test are due later this week.

"That's a moot point now," Valle said. "He's not going to the University of Arizona. Brandon plans on going to Europe."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3479195

Is this a good or a bad thing? This could start a new trend and provide a loophole in Stern's attempt to get kids to go to college.

[GameTime_3]

This guy is stupid. So how will they spin this next year? Head case, Didnt want to study, Stupid? Either way he was only going for a year but this should raise acouple of red flags.

[streetp0et]

imo, it won't be the start of a new trend. this guy just didn't have the grades for college and didn't care much for studying, so that's why he decided to do this. most teenagers, i don't think, would be as willing to isolate themselves from their comfort zone and go to a foreign country for a year where they have no knowledge of the language.

[NO-KG-AI]

I like the idea, we can see him play with men, and if he blows up, his stock should soar.

[Gerald3Wallace]

his family needs the money...not only will he get his family some money...he will also develop better as a player because he will be going up against grown men instead of kids his age..

he may be dumb in school...but he knows what hes doing to make himself better, and to help his family financially.

[SmoothKobra]

It's a good move for him....more and more kids are going to start doing this. If they have the talent to play professionally, just let them go pro. The NCAA is making millions on the Durants, Odens, and Beaselys of the world. If the kids want to make some of that money, and they have the talent to play, there is nothing wrong with that. What good would the NCAA have done for LeBron or Kobe? Durant and Beasely could have made the jump from HS. Stern will reconsider his rule once he sees alot of his young talent playing in Europe for one or two years. The NCAA won't be too happy either.

[carrottop12]

LOL, this thread should be titled...

David Stern ruins College Basketball Forever

This isn't going to do anything for his stalk other then raise it, the same way it does for anyone playing in Europe. He'll make a ton of money next season, and honestly he will be playing in a better league then college ball. Then come into the NBA with more talent, even if there is less hype.

Good for him. Take that David Stern.

[DelaneyRudd]

My question is why Europe, where he will have a tough cultural adjustment, no friends and a hell of a time understanding his coaches instead of the D-League? Spain, Italy, Greece, Russia are the places he would go likely, not England or Germany. He should try and get a team in Israel.

[-Phenom-]

Yea I think this is big. More and more players will see that they wont have to go to school and do extra work. They'll be able to play ball as much as they like. For Jennings situation this is a good move for him.

[ss1986v2]

My question is why Europe, where he will have a tough cultural adjustment, no friends and a hell of a time understanding his coaches instead of the D-League? Spain, Italy, Greece, Russia are the places he would go likely, not England or Germany. He should try and get a team in Israel.

in 2007, dleague salaries ranged from 14,000-24,000 per season. so unless hes going to supplant his income by working a deep fryer at night, hes better off going to europe and actually getting paid.

[carrottop12]

Especially with the exchange rate of the Euro to the Dollar right now.

This is just the beginning of things to come ladies and Gentlemen.

Everyone said after KG that even though he came straight from High School that not many other players would do it, and they were all wrong.

Watch it now, my guess is at least half of the top HS prospects go to Europe.

[dockingsched]

anyone else think a yr in europe will do more for his game than a yr in college?

[carrottop12]

anyone else think a yr in europe will do more for his game than a yr in college?

+1

[Buck You]

He's not a very bright guy. Sorry, but dim bulbs like him rarely make it in the NBA.

[Whiteman]

anyone else think a yr in europe will do more for his game than a yr in college?

Doubtful.
In college, he would have been guaranteed a starting spot and big minutes. In Europe, that will depend on the team he chooses. No elite team in Europe will put an 18-year old who's new to their team in their starting lineup. So either he gets a spot on the bench somewhere and has to try to work himself into the rotation, or he goes to a lesser team/league.
Furthermore, adapting to life in a new country, where he doesn't speak the language, won't be easy.

I'm not saying he won't be succesful in Europe, but his chances to improve would have been better in college.

And I really doubt this is the start of an exodus of high school players to Europe. There are very few 18-year olds who are good enough to help a European pro team. Even if a few teams gamble on HS players, those players will see little court time if they're unable to contribute right away, and that will scare away other HS players. College is still a much safer route to the NBA.

[ManualRam]

He's not a very bright guy. Sorry, but dim bulbs like him rarely make it in the NBA.

uh yeah they do. especially if they got the ball on a string, a 40 inch vert, 3pt range and crazy quicks.
KG couldnt make the grade either. i think he did fine for himself and his family.
i just wonder what euro team will invest 1 yr in a player who's leaving for the NBA anyways?
as for gaining experience, he might practice vs grown men but i dont think any team will play him outside of a junior/cadet team level.
either way, this kid needs to be humbled. going to europe and being a nobody might be just what he needs. i like his potential, but right now the kid's game is too street, all flash, no discipline.
overall, i have no problem with the move. screw the NCAA.

[cdubbz]

He's gona be lonely out in europe playing ball. Also he might not understand his coach and he might not get great instruction or development as he would in college from a D1 coach like lute olsen. Most european teams that have americans on the team just let the americans do what they want because of the langauge barrier.

[Buck You]

I don't know, playing point guard is a lot different than power forward. You have to learn the offense and know the plays, etc. I mean, even Stephon Marbury made it to college.

[Undrafted Rook]

anyone else think a yr in europe will do more for his game than a yr in college?

Doubtful.
In college, he would have been guaranteed a starting spot and big minutes. In Europe, that will depend on the team he chooses. No elite team in Europe will put an 18-year old who's new to their team in their starting lineup. So either he gets a spot on the bench somewhere and has to try to work himself into the rotation, or he goes to a lesser team/league.
Furthermore, adapting to life in a new country, where he doesn't speak the language, won't be easy.

I'm not saying he won't be succesful in Europe, but his chances to improve would have been better in college.

And I really doubt this is the start of an exodus of high school players to Europe. There are very few 18-year olds who are good enough to help a European pro team. Even if a few teams gamble on HS players, those players will see little court time if they're unable to contribute right away, and that will scare away other HS players. College is still a much safer route to the NBA.

European teams play alot more than college teams, and they don't play those lopsided games that teams in the NCAA play.

American players don't ride the pine in Europe, if you're not worth a spot in rotation you'll get replaced.

Club teams here bring over young players all the time, they have systems in place to ease the transition. These guys are million dollar investments to the clubs, of course they get all the support they need.

Jennings just needs to be careful choosing the team. I would look for an american coach, maybe from a smaller italian or spanish team. He's definately not ready to contribute in Euroleague, maybe a team with a place in ULEB would be good.

If this will start a trend or not relies heavily on if he's succesful or not. Bold decision from the kid, but a good one I think. I hope he succeeds and make things more interesting for the time when next KG, Kobe or Lebron rolls around.

[krikit]

some cash-strapped bottom team in France or so could sign up to say 300k a year, put in a 300-500k NBA buyout (the number NBA teams can pay straight up for a buyout without effecting the cap). Then they could give him the minutes needed to market him for the draft, sell tickets and create some hype in their town while making profit on it as long as he is good enough to be a top 15 pick in the draft.