The Overseas Option...

[dbav]

I just wanted to get some opinions on this. I know that due to the NBA rules, kids have to be 1 year removed from high school (or a certain age if I recall correctly) in order to be eligible for the draft. I also have seen a few kids go overseas instead of spending that 1 year in college.

I'm curious because I would think that having a full year of professional basketball under your belt seems like it would be more enticing to NBA teams. Also, it seems like getting paid (officially) would be very attractive to the kids that are good enough to make that jump.

My question would be why more kids don't make that jump overseas rather than going to college? I assume it is because of the exposure college basketball requires for draft status, and the distance away from home at such a young age. However, I would think that the overseas option would be far more of a consideration for these kids than it is now.

Whatcha think?

 

[Willcampbell]

I've pondered this issue myself. I know if I were from a poor background and I could provide my family with a million bucks, and if I were confident that I was a first rounder after one year of college, I would jump to the overseas option. One year of college is not a "college experience." That said, I would have to think I was mature enough to handle being so far from home and in a strange culture. I would have to have very strong support systems outside of the foreign club.

Mudiay's decision to go all the way to China was very brave, but he came back as a lottery pick, and a lot richer. If it were me, Italy or France or Spain would be more attractive, even for a little less money.

I hope the NBA changes its eligibility requirements so that this will be less of and issue, but, even then, the dough will be available sooner in another country, and the NBA don't care where you come from, as long as you can play. With that said, I'm actually one of the few who would advocate letting US high schoolers jump right away to The League. Sure, there will be a lot of broken dreams and failures, but if you and your family and your coaches/advisers want to make that decision, then you have to be fully prepared to live with it.

OFC

 

[LetsGoDuke301]

If what I wanted out of basketball was to make money doing it, it would be a no brainer to play over seas. But I don't think we will ever see it as the norm. Any time you get an opportunity at a scholarship to college you should take it, even if you only play on the team for one year. You can still get a degree even if you are a OAD.

 

[CRAZIE4LIFE]

I guess it's how used to being away from home you are and how mature you are. Most of these top kids are continuously traveling on AAU teams and on the U19 teams, so that would help. It probably also depends on the impact your parent would have, and I'm sure some of these kids who are from poor families or single parents would be able to take them along which would benefit both. Imagine being able to take your mother out of a poor environment to being a millionaire in another country then being able to come back home even wealthier.
The selfish side of me enjoys these kids going to college though.

 

[DukeDenver]

Apparently Mudiay is way more popular in China than you would think. I could see advertising dollars coming from that down the line.

 

[dbav]

I just always wondered. When I was 18, if someone came to me and said I could go to Italy, or France, or Spain to do what I loved and get paid for it, I'd have asked where I needed to sign up.

I know there are guys on here that have an ear to the ground on all things recruiting, I was just curious to know if an Okafor or a Tatum or any other top recruits were even considering that.