Nation's top high school guard likely to play overseas

[mistabeecee41]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--nation-s-top-high-school-guard-considering-playing-overseas-155248029.html

Sucks for SMU (and J-Mart). Can't blame the kid. If he was planning on bailing after 1 year, doesn't make sense to sit out 1 before doing so.

[GoMuskies]

Good choice. I think more of the "sure-fire" lottery picks should go this route. Granted, most probably cannot afford the pay cut from what they would get at Kentucky.

[STL_XUfan]

Good for him. Get paid while you can.

[LA Muskie]

I disagree. I think it's a really bad idea. The path to the NBA is through college. He won't make a ton of $$$ as an unproven rookie overseas, he will probably get tied-up for more than just a year, and he likely won't develop the way he would in college. I think this is much less about $$$ than it is about the NCAA circling its wagons.

[casualfan]

The path to the NBA is through college.

Brandon Jennings went to Italy instead of college.


He won't make a ton of $$$ as an unproven rookie overseas

Jennings made $3.65 million in the lone season he spent in Europe.


I he will probably get tied-up for more than just a year

Jennings spent just one year in Italy


he likely won't develop the way he would in college

Jennings was drafted 10th in the 2009 NBA Draft.


It may not be the right path for the majority of the guys out there, but that doesn't mean it doesn't make sense for some (especially if the reports of an NCAA investigation involving Mudiay are true).

[xubrew]

Didn't notice this thread when I started the other one, but this one was here first. My mistake.

[LA Muskie]

It may not be the right path for the majority of the guys out there, but that doesn't mean it doesn't make sense for some (especially if the reports of an NCAA investigation involving Mudiay are true).
I agree. Especially if reports of an NCAA investigation are true.

[sirthought]

Jennings is easy to point to. His year in Italy was really a disaster and he didn't do much of anything, so he was fortunate to still be drafted to a team that was desperate for some/any kind of talent at that position. I don't know that many kids would really fall that way, even the ones so highly touted. It's certainly not a bad strategy for him, though. If basketball doesn't work out, he's still young and go back for education after earning a little money.

[casualfan]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 4m
Emmanuel Mudiay's one-year deal with Guangdong of the China Basketball Association will pay him $1.2M, source tells Yahoo Sports.

Not a bad pay day.

[GoMuskies]

Again, more kids should be doing this.

[Xville]

Again, more kids should be doing this.

agreed...if you are a top prospect and can get that type of coin...why go to college for a year instead of just doing this? You get to live in a different country for a year, make about a million dollars, and then head to the draft. Sounds like a good time to me. I don't really see a drawback for this level of player to go overseas instead of college.

[muskienick]

If I were now the "Me" I was at 18 and good enough to get a $1.2 M 1-year contract to play in China, I would have been too culturally intimidated to accept it. I can't imagine too many 18 year-olds who would have the moxie to be on one's own --- with no support system --- in a different country --- where people speak a different language --- and where their customs, government, and politics are just as foreign to me as their language!

I might be willing to give Canada or Great Britain a shot, but I don't think they have the opportunities for earning a nice paycheck for playing pro basketball like they do in Spain, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Greece, South America, and the Far East.

[XU 87]

Short term- good idea. Long term- not so sure. How much will he learn and improve playing in China?

[ammtd34]

Short term- good idea. Long term- not so sure. How much will he learn and improve playing in China?

Does it matter? He's going to be a lottery pick regardless. Might as well make a million dollars while waiting to make more millions.

[xubrew]

If I were now the "Me" I was at 18 and good enough to get a $1.2 M 1-year contract to play in China, I would have been too culturally intimidated to accept it. I can't imagine too many 18 year-olds who would have the moxie to be on one's own --- with no support system --- in a different country --- where people speak a different language --- and where their customs, government, and politics are just as foreign to me as their language!

I might be willing to give Canada or Great Britain a shot, but I don't think they have the opportunities for earning a nice paycheck for playing pro basketball like they do in Spain, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Greece, South America, and the Far East.

The thing is, when you go to those places, you fall in love with them. Granted, I have friends that live over there (with the exception of China) so that makes it a little different, but I think I could easily live for a year in any of those places and love every minute of it. Well, depending on what part of those countries you live in.

[Milhouse]

If I were now the "Me" I was at 18 and good enough to get a $1.2 M 1-year contract to play in China, I would have been too culturally intimidated to accept it. I can't imagine too many 18 year-olds who would have the moxie to be on one's own --- with no support system --- in a different country --- where people speak a different language --- and where their customs, government, and politics are just as foreign to me as their language!

I might be willing to give Canada or Great Britain a shot, but I don't think they have the opportunities for earning a nice paycheck for playing pro basketball like they do in Spain, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Greece, South America, and the Far East.

There is absolutely 100% no reason his family couldn't join him if he/they wanted to.....they could literally live with and travel with him to every game.

[GoMuskies]

There is absolutely 100% no reason his family couldn't join him if he/they wanted to.....they could literally live with and travel with him to every game.

Some of them might, you know, have jobs.

[Juice]

It appears the roster of his team already has 3 Americans on it. So that's definitely a positive for him because it looks like other teams have no Americans on them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foshan_Dralions

[muskienick]

There is absolutely 100% no reason his family couldn't join him if he/they wanted to.....they could literally live with and travel with him to every game.

Except for the fact that some parents don't expect their talented sons to support them for the rest of their lives. My Mom and Dad were decades away from retirement when I was 18 years old. They could not have picked up and left his job (general manager of a warehouse) and their home and other children to babysit me in China especially since I was a blown achilles tendon or other injury away from losing that career.

[PMI]

If I were now the "Me" I was at 18 and good enough to get a $1.2 M 1-year contract to play in China, I would have been too culturally intimidated to accept it. I can't imagine too many 18 year-olds who would have the moxie to be on one's own --- with no support system --- in a different country --- where people speak a different language --- and where their customs, government, and politics are just as foreign to me as their language!

I might be willing to give Canada or Great Britain a shot, but I don't think they have the opportunities for earning a nice paycheck for playing pro basketball like they do in Spain, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Greece, South America, and the Far East.

I don't think I would want to live in China for a year personally, but for $1.2 million before entering the NBA draft, I could suck it up.

[GoMuskies]

I'd love to live a year in China. At least as a guy making $1.2 MM. I'd spend as much time as possible in Shanghai and Macau, though.

[Milhouse]

I'm sure his parents have Jobs but chances are they aren't making anywhere near that 1.2 Million he'll be pulling in. If he's homesick enough that he wants them to come I'm sure they could be convinced.

Not too mention its not a full year just a season. He'd probably be there no longer than 6 months.

[Xville]

His story is pretty wild.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/smu-mustangs/20140308-once-endangered-by-african-war-smu-signee-emmanuel-mudiay-aims-for-nba-career.ece