GOOD CHOICE
A few posts ago (early entry or stay in school) I talked about going to play pro ball or going/staying in school. Today something new happened in America that has a lot of people upset the news is: Jeremy Tyler a 6’11” (2m11) center has quit high school as a junior(voorlaatste jaar) to play pro basketball in Europe. Jeremy Tyler will likely play in Spain and has offers from other countries as well. Brandon Jennings who skipped college this year to play for Rome in the euroleague and will be a top 10 pick in this year’s draft started it all. People said that Brandon Jennings was stupid for doing it and he should have gone to college. Let’s face it he came out better playing in the second best league in the world (euroleague) signing a $250,000 contract with under armour for his own shoe and will be a top 10 pick in the draft. If Jennings would have gone to college his season would be over and because the NCAA( governing body of college basketball) says a team can only practice 20 hours a week (includes weights and individual workouts) and can only start practice in mid October. With his team in Rome they started practice in August with 2 practices a day and guess what they are still playing and by playing in the euroleague he got a chance to see a lot of other European countries. Jennings is better off with 10 months of work instead of 5 he has a shoe contract and a salary for playing rather than playing for free only making the coaches and Universities richer by making money off of him. I wish nothing but the best for Jeremy Tyler, he will play versus better competition, have more practice to better his game, get to see the world and make money. This will start a new trend in basketball in for talented 16,17, and 18 year Americans coming to Europe to play like it has been going on for years already here and the way it has been done in other sports.