NCAA Basketball FanHouse

West Virginia's Ebanks Still M.I.A.

Tom Ziller — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:32:00 EST

Filed under: West Virginia, NBA Prospects

Bob Huggins has West Virginia flying high in the top 10, and a light pre-Thanksgiving schedule should keep the 1-0 Mountaineers from much Kentucky-style heartburn or any Carolina hiccups. But to keep those lofty expectations realistic heading into Big East play -- and before that the 76 Classic in Anaheim beginning Nov. 29, headlined by UCLA and No. 11 Butler -- Huggins certainly needs big things from standout sophomore forward Devin Ebanks.

For that to happen, Ebanks would have to actually be playing with the team. Which, as of right now, he's not, with no timeline for his return in place, nor even an explanation of why he is not with the team.

The Morgantown media corps checked in with Huggins Friday, asking why Ebanks had been suspended by the coach a week prior, and when the star would return. According to the Charleston Gazette, Huggins refused to disclose the reasons for Ebanks's suspension and said he didn't know when the forward would be allowed back in the gym.

Ebanks could very well quietly return to the fold this week, with enough time to get back into rhythm before the California trip. But so long as Huggins gives the same vague answers about his star's status, that's a question only time can answer, and that should rightly cause worry in Morgantown.

West Virginia's Ebanks Still M.I.A. originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latavious Williams to Play Basketball in China, Not Memphis

Matt Snyder — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Memphis, Conference USA, NBA Prospects, Recruiting

Before the NBA enacted its minimum age requirement, people were worried about kids forgoing a collegiate education to jump straight to the NBA. The still relatively new rule is instead having an effect its supporters may not have considered: Kids are going overseas to play basketball for money just out of high school.

The newest member of the now three-man club (joining Jeremy Tyler -- who is actually skipping his senior year of high school -- and Brandon Jennings) is Latavious Williams, who had previously committed to Josh Pastner's Memphis Tigers. Every story is unique, but Williams is a complete 180 from the cases of Tyler and Jennings.

Tyler is likely to be a lottery pick whenever the NBA decides he's old enough to join them. Jennings wanted to attend Arizona but didn't academically qualify, but he's such a big-time prospect he's made more than $1 million to play in Italy. Last month in the NBA draft, he was selected 10th overall and should easily make over $1 million a year to play in the NBA.

Williams hasn't yet been ruled academically eligible to play for Memphis, but Pastner told Fox Sports he thought there was a 50 percent chance of that still happening.

Williams also is not a big-time NBA prospect. He was ranked as high as 17 by some recruiting websites for the incoming class, which means he would need to polish his skills at the collegiate level before being a sure-fire NBA prospect ready to make millions. According to who Fox Sports calls Williams' "mentor/advisor," Trey Godfrey, Williams felt a financial burden.

"He made the decision when taking into account his family situation," said Godfrey, who is a certified agent who maintains there is no agreement in place with Williams. "He wants to put himself in a situation where he can help out and he saw this as a good opportunity."

Considering the fact that Williams may never be a strong enough basketball player to make it in the NBA, this is not as much a minimum age issue as it is a somewhat isolated case of a young man wanting to help his family monetarily. If they could have survived a few more years in their current situation, it's still more an issue of him wanting an immediate payday instead of the minimum age requirement, because Williams would not have been drafted this past June by any team in the NBA.

There will be those who judge him for not trying to get an education, but he's going to make a lot of money as an 18-year-old. Our time would be better spent worrying about kids without the means to make money who can't get into schools after graduating high school.

Still, if nothing else, it's a bit odd to see 18-year-old kids going to China or Europe to make money playing hoops when they aren't allowed to do so here.

Latavious Williams to Play Basketball in China, Not Memphis originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Henry-Kansas Saga Offers Proof NBA Rule Wrong for College Basketball

Terrance Harris — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Kansas, Big 12, NBA Prospects, Coaches

Anyone following the Henry-Kansas basketball drama this week has been thoroughly entertained.

Kansas coach Bill Self has to be scratching his head now wondering, "What just happened here?" Self and his staff had successfully lured Xavier and C.J. Henry, the offspring of former 1980s KU basketball standouts Carl and Barbara Henry, into the Jayhawks' fold after breaking their previous commitment to Memphis in April.

All was right in the slimy world of big-time college recruiting.

That was until Sunday's Kansas City Star article that took a look at the Henry family and its diva ways. The story delved into why the Henry family had elected to have the boys remain in Oklahoma City to work with a personal trainer, instead of heading to campus for summer school and some ahead-of-time bonding with their coaches and teammates as thousands of incoming college recruits do.

But the story's sometimes critical tone didn't stop there, also revealing Carl had looked into sending Xavier, a smooth 6-foot-6 shooting guard who has NBA lottery pick written all over him, to Europe for a year just a month after his sons signed with KU. Carl came off as a sometimes out-of-control stage dad.

Carl was livid.

A couple days after the story ran, Carl hit the radio airwaves stating his disdain for the article and threatening that his sons might not end up in Lawrence after all. It turns out Xavier still wanted to play for John Calipari and might be headed to play for the former Memphis coach at Kentucky. What?

The passionate and vocal Jayhawks fan base let it be known their displeasure with their beloved basketball team being played for a fool. The idea that the fans who once cheered Carl had turned on him and his family infuriated the elder Henry more.

Not surprisingly within hours of Carl's radio rant, Self and several staff members boarded a private jet Tuesday night for Oklahoma City to smooth things over. Within hours Xavier was confirming his commitment to Kansas, and by Wednesday Carl was backing off his threat to pull his boys out.

But anyone who thinks we've heard the last of the Henry-KU drama isn't really seeing the problem and the root of it.

Clearly, the Henry boys and their dad have little interest in school. The NBA and it's minimum-age requirement is forcing a one-year marriage between the Henrys and KU we all know will end badly. C.J., a 23-year-old former Yankees prospect and a skilled 6-foot-3 point guard, could have given the NBA a shot but he's a bit rusty after a few years in the minors, and doesn't possess the can't-miss talent of his younger brother in basketball.

Some of this makes you wonder why Self would want this headache. The team he already has is good enough to make the Jayhawks the preseason No.1 and the odds-on favorites to win next season's Final Four. Now, finding a place and ample playing time for the Henry boys will be a must or risk a blowup and chemistry issues during the Jayhawks' title run.

Interestingly, FanHouse asked Self a couple weeks ago if he thought it was reasonable for major college coaches to shy away from recruiting the one-and-done divas, who often leave programs high and dry. Self responded honestly.

"In a word, no," he admitted.

We all know that no coach in his right mind would turn down a potential lottery pick and the potential he could bring to a program, even for one season.

"But there is no guarantee they would leave after one year," Self said. "There have been a lot of guys who have been projected as one-and-done who've been in school for three. There have been a lot of guys who have been projected to be in school for four who leave after one or two.

"Everybody matures and develops at different rates. I do believe it is an inexact science and I do believe that coaches still want to recruit the best guys."

Self was also asked about the viability of high school prospects avoiding college by going to Europe for a year as Brandon Jennings did last year. The unflappable coach responded perhaps knowing that Xavier and his family were considering an overseas venture.

"To me, Europe is an option. It's an option if you have no options," Self said. "I don't really see a lot of good things that come from as an 18-year-old who goes over there but had the opportunity to go to school, to be qualified and play at a place where he can be exposed and coached and all those things.

"There are too many risks with Europe. Who's going to be your coach, maturity level, are you able to handle it, breaking up families. I think that is a big risk."

Henry-Kansas Saga Offers Proof NBA Rule Wrong for College Basketball originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Racial Paternalism and College Sports

Clay Travis — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Prospects, Campus

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal published an investigation that found just 26 major league baseball players and managers have college degrees. Twenty-six! That's out of a pool of a potential 1,042 players and managers. You want that in percentage terms, that's 2.5 percent. A staggeringly low percentage, even if you pull out all Latin American players (who don't have the same collegiate opportunities) from the equation. Yet, I defy you to find an article that utilizes this fact to make an argument that baseball players need better educations.

The same would hold true for tennis, hockey and golf. As a society, we don't care about the education of our athletes in those sports. In fact, what are the only two sports that we seem to care about when it comes to the education of athletes? Football and basketball. Which just so happen to also have the largest percentage of minority athletes. That's got me wondering, isn't our society guilty of racial paternalism when it comes to sports?

I think so. Put plainly, we don't trust a comparatively small pool of young black kids to make decisions about their professional sports futures, but we don't even blink when thousands of white kids head pro in sports without the slightest bit of education.

If I stacked every article ever written about the necessity of obtaining a college education, how many of them would focus on baseball? Any at all? Then think about how many articles you've read about the value of a college education when the players compete in basketball and football. Compare the two. It's shocking, right? No one ever -- and I mean ever -- questions the right of kids to sign baseball contracts directly out of high school. No talking heads ever pound their hands into a desk and wax eloquent about the need for a college eduction, millions be damned.

When I saw the pathetic percentage of major league managers and players with a college degree, the double standard was suddenly jarring. Unavoidable. But what was even more jarring was the silence. No one ever talks or writes about the dearth of major league baseball education. That's despite the fact that, every year, the basketball and football drafts, two and seven rounds, respectively, only select a little over 300 players for their leagues. The baseball draft, on the other hand, is epic -- more than fifteen hundred players will be selected before it's over. The vast, vast majority will never step foot on a major league baseball field. At least basketball and football draftees are immediately competing for the big contracts at the top levels of the sports. In fact, baseball alone selects almost five-times as many kids for their sport every year than basketball and football do combined. As if that weren't enough, given that basketball requires players be at least one year removed from high school and football requires three, neither of those leagues drafts an 18-year-old straight from high school. Baseball drafts hundreds every year. And no one utters a word of criticism about these kids forgoing their college education.

Why?

I think all we need to do is look at the racial make-up of the players in each of the four major league sports. Based on 2007 stats, 79 percent of NBA players and 65 percent of NFL players are black. The most recent numbers show that only 8 percent of baseball players are black and just 2 percent of hockey players are. Guess which sports allow 18-year-olds to come straight into the league?

But I'm sure that's a coincidence, right?

Look, I'm not saying that we as a society have decided that black athletes need to go to school and white ones don't. I don't think the decision is that simple or that most people make that decision consciously. After all, plenty of minorities support the guidelines put in place by the NFL and the NBA. You can even argue that the NBA and NFL draft systems make more sense than those put in place by the NHL and the MLB. Personally, I think they do. In fact, why don't all players get the right to go through the draft after their senior year like baseball players do? Give kids the right to see how much money they can make before they decide whether or not to go to college. As is, the NBA and the NFL require any kids who leave school early to do so without a parachute. Go pro and give up college forever, young man. Even if you don't get drafted. Talk about a draconian punishment. Every league should have a system just like major league baseball -- if a kid is good enough to get drafted at 18, give him the opportunity to take the money and pursue a professional career. Every contract in those leagues should then contain the language that if he fails at baseball, the team will pay for him to attend college.

But that's my prescription for an equalization of treatment across the board. What I think is the more interesting question is this: why does our society allow these disparate treatments and not think twice about it? Why have we set up a system where black kids playing in the NFL and the NBA are much more likely to have college degrees than white kids playing Major League Baseball or in the NHL? I think the answer is that our perception governs these situations. We think that young black kids should go to college and so the leagues (in cahoots with the NCAA) dictate this policy, making college a de facto minor leagues. We're willing, even eager, to allow it to happen in these sports but not in any others.

Again, why?

I don't claim to have an easy answer that every person is going to agree with, but I think it's a question that every fan should be asking of themselves. Why is it okay for NHL and MLB players to go pro without ever sniffing a college classroom, but it isn't okay for football and basketball players to do so? Is it simply because we want those players to play for our college teams, that we care more about college basketball and football than we do college hockey and baseball? Is that really a justification, these athletes should go to college because they entertain us when they put on our college's uniform? I don't think so.

I think this is about something deeper and more firmly ingrained in our national consciousness than anyone cares to acknowledge, I think the disparate systems are a vestige of racial paternalism. And what's the ultimate irony of today's system? We're ensuring that would-be white athletes get worse educations than would-be black athletes. For the people who claim that race isn't a factor at all when it comes to the disparate treatment, shouldn't they be outraged by the relative lack of education of NHL and Major League Baseball players?

I won't hold my breath waiting for the hue and cry of national outrage to swell up on a tide of indignation. The fact that you won't either should really make you reexamine why you don't care that only 26 major league baseball players have college degrees, but you think all basketball and football players should go to college.

Racial Paternalism and College Sports originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCAA Coaches Critical of NBA Age Limit

Terrance Harris — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:40:00 EST

Filed under: Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Big 12, NBA Prospects

Could the NBA and its minimum age requirement really be guilty of hypocrisy?

It certainly appears that way to Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel and some other Big 12 coaches after watching the most recent NBA Finals and seeing which NBA players were pushed as the faces of the league throughout the season.

The straight out of high school players, who are the type of players the NBA no longer wants to be associated with, are now carrying the torch for the world's best pro game.

"If you follow the NBA, if you look at the guys who are promoted as the face of the NBA, you are talking about Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett," Capel said. "Those are four that jumped right out and none of those guys attended college and I don't think it hurt them."

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Most college coaches have been steamed for some time at the NBA rule that requires players to be at least 19 and one year removed from high school, thus giving birth to the sometimes destructive one-and-done college players.

Legendary basketball coach Bob Knight was one of the first big name coaches to boisterously speak out against the one-and-done phenomenon two years ago when he made the point that the NBA rule has opened the door for players to come to college and not be serious students. Other coaches have since joined the growing chorus.

The NBA, during its 2005 collective-bargaining agreement, passed the minimum age requirement to protect the integrity of its game. The NBA no longer has to bank on the pure potential of players who may or may not pan out. But the NBA's gain has become college basketball's problem.

"It's a bad rule, it's a really bad rule," said Capel, whose sophomore forward, Blake Griffin, is expected to be the first player taken in Thursday's NBA Draft. "In my opinion it makes a mockery of education in college and also I think it's condescending on the NBA's part."

Conversation about the feasibility of the rule has heated up with this year's NBA Draft upon us and the likelihood that up to three one-and-done players -- Memphis' Tyreke Evans, USC's DeMar DeRozan and UCLA's Jrue Holiday -- could be lottery picks and a fourth, Ohio State 7-foot center B.J. Mullens, could also go in the first round.

It also hasn't helped that the alleged actions of two former one-and-doners, Derrick Rose of Memphis and USC's O.J. Mayo, have threatened to rock their respective programs. Rose has been accused of cheating to get into Memphis, while there are illegal payment accusations surrounding Mayo, which caused head coach Tim Floyd to step down earlier this month.

Problems seem to be arising that college coaches didn't envision when the NBA instituted its minimum age requirement.

"I thought initially making kids go to school for a year was a good thing, but after the recent things that have occurred ... I don't think you can blame it all on one-and-done as the main reason things have occurred," said Kansas coach Bill Self. "Those things could have just as easily occurred if these kids were in school two or three years." "I think these kids should have the right to go straight from high school. To be quite honest with you, some of them aren't college material and the one-and-done rule makes a mockery of that."
-- Jeff Capel

But clearly what the college coaches seem to be asking for is some relief by the NBA. The obvious first choice is to allow high school students to go straight from graduation to the NBA riches. The second would be to require NBA players to be two or three years removed from high school.

"I do think there will be a movement to make it a year older," Self said. "My personal opinion is kids should be able to go straight out of high school or stay for three. I think it will move to two and that will be good because in all honestly is [if] somebody wanted to make a mockery of our education system, they could with the one-and-done, they could.

"You pass six hours in the fall and don't go to school in the spring, and next thing you know you are still eligible to play the whole year. It has been abused a little bit, but not sure the abuse we see is strictly because of the one-an-done."

Texas coach Rick Barnes has a unique perspective on the one-and-done players and how to keep academic integrity. He says he talks to perspective student-athletes who might have that opportunity to exit for the NBA early and explains if they do so that he is OK with their decision as long as they take care of their school work during that spring semester.

It worked with Kevin Durant, who left the Longhorns after one spectacular season in 2007. Barnes had the same conversation with D.J. Augustin, T.J. Ford and LaMarcus Aldridge. He hasn't had a problem with the NCAA and its APR guidelines.

"If a person told me they wouldn't do that then we wouldn't recruit them," Barnes said. "That's a decision we have to make it so we lay that out."

While the college game has been left holding the bag on these dilemmas, the NBA has just gone about its business. NBA commissioner David Stern has only offered that his league's primary concern is nurturing its game the right way and that is by bringing in experienced players. Players can get that experience either in college, the NBA Developmental League, and now Europe seems to be becoming an option.

Point guard Brandon Jennings raised some eyebrows last year when he left high school and went over to Europe for a year to play ball. And after an underwhelming season with Lottomatica Roma of Italy, Jennings seems poised to be a late lottery pick in Thursday's draft.

Self isn't sure Europe will be the answers, though the floodgates appear to be opening.

"People look at him and ask did it work? The jury is still out on if it worked," Self said. "You pay a 20-year-old young man a lot of money, but can he impact a professional team with 25 or 30-year-old men on it? That's hard to do. [Jennings] is obviously a great talent and everything but I don't know if teams in the future and the economic times, that guys are going to get million dollar deals over there.

"I think it's kind of pie in the sky with what a lot of people view overseas to be and it's not quite like that. Those are business people trying to make the best decisions. They're not just throwing away money."

But whose problem should it be if things don't work out overseas or if the NBA is forced to draft players on potential instead of proven talent or if players opt for pro riches before they are ready?

Capel says that burden should fall on the shoulders of the college basketball game. In the last two years Capel has had two freshmen who looked at the NBA but decided to return to school. Griffin considered the jump last summer and Big 12 Freshman of the Year Willie Warren weighed his options this spring before deciding to return next season.

"I sometimes think that we make a mistake and think that we have to save or protect kids from themselves," Capel said. "I don't agree with that, I just don't. I grew up with a father and mother, people that constantly taught me about choice and that you have to live with the choices and accept things that come along with your choices and that also include bad choices.

"I think these kids should have the right to go straight from high school. To be quite honest with you, some of them aren't college material and the one-and-done rule makes a mockery of that."

NCAA Coaches Critical of NBA Age Limit originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Draft Deadline Decisions: Team Winners and Losers

Chas Rich — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:54:00 EST

Filed under: WCC, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Pac-10, SEC, NBA Prospects

The deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the NBA draft came and went Monday at 5PM. Plenty of underclassmen had already made decisions to not even test the waters (Willie Warren, Oklahoma) or previously decided to return (Patrick Patterson, Kentucky). Still, plenty of others never looked back by hiring an agent right away (Earl Clark, Louisville).

The focus is strictly on the players that took it up until this weekend or even right under the wire Monday afternoon. Before getting to the programs that "won" and "lost" with the decisions to stay or go there are two teams that have counter-intuitive situations.

LOSER THAT ACTUALLY WINS

Kentucky. Losing a Jodie Meeks-caliber player is not a good thing for most teams. It does, however free up shots, which is something the Wildcats will need. While Meeks took a huge leap in productivity last season and was reportedly a great teammate, he also averaged over 15 shots per game. Patrick Patterson returning to join a class that includes DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and Jon Hood gives the Wildcats' offense huge potential. The additional bonus is that it takes a smidgen of pressure off of preseason hype for Kentucky and coach John Calipari.

WINNER THAT ACTUALLY LOSES

UConn. The Huskies are facing an NCAA investigation into the recruitment of Nate Miles and Ator Majok along with the UConn coaches' relationship with a former student manager, former personal assistant to Rip Hamilton and wannabe agent in Josh Nochisom. Miles never played a minute for UConn and has hired an agent to pursue his career far away from NCAA investigators. Majok, though, is remaining a student-athlete and will be required to answer questions from the NCAA (assuming they get around to asking before he declares once more). The potential is there for Majok never to get a minute with the Huskies plus the harm to UConn's program is very real.

WINNERS

Notre Dame -- Luke Harangody returns for his senior year with a great chance to finish as the program's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. This is good news for a team that will be in need of giving fans a reason to watch in a rebuilding season following a season of disappointment.

Maryland -- The decision by Greivis Vasquez to come back was mildly surprising. Not that he was likely to be drafted, but the rumors were swirling that Vasquez just wanted to go pro, whether it was in the NBA, Europe or in South America.

South Carolina -- Second-year coach Darrin Horn gets a nice present as Devan Downey decides to return for his final year. He had to sit out a year after transferring from Cincinnati, so this is a bonus. Dominique Archie returning was less of a surprise, but important to the Gamecocks hopes in 2009.

LSU -- The return of Tasmin Mitchell should not have been a surprise, but he took his time coming to his senses.

Tennessee -- The SEC seems to be jumping from joke back to power in just one season. It's not just Calipari to Kentucky, the conference has now has some depth. Tyler Smith's return will help keep Tennessee from slipping further.

Villanova -- The return of Scottie Reynolds does not make the team more of a threat in terms of talent. There is plenty of that in the Wildcats backcourt. Reynolds, though, provides serious leadership and a guy you want to take the last shot in a game.

Arizona -- This was quite the turnaround from the end of the season, when the coaching search seemed to be a mess. No recruits coming in, and plenty of early departures. Nic Wise deciding he would return, though, provides a senior leader for coach Sean Miller.

Texas -- Damion James' return was a real surprise. He seemed determined to go pro after seeing D.J. Augustin leave early and A.J. Abrams graduate. James provides stability on the wing and should benefit from Florida transfer Jai Lucas running the point with McDonald's All-American shooting guard, Avery Bradley helping to spread the floor.

Georgia Tech -- Paul Hewitt is well respected. He has a Final Four appearance. He is a tremendous recruiter. But he also has had little success the last few years. That could change. Gani Lawal could not get a first-round guarantee, so the sophomore returns.

LOSERS

St. Mary's -- Patty Mills' decision to stay in the draft should not have been a surprise. If he had not missed a good chunk of the season injured, there would have been no doubt. The longer he took to decide, though, created hope that he might come back and lead the Gaels to dethroning Gonzaga.

Gonzaga -- Every scout and GM, armchair and real, has been aware at how soft and thin Austin Daye is. They practically marvel over it. He is the personification of the terms "project" and "potential upside." He will get drafted somewhere at the end of the first round or the beginning of the second and disappear for a few years maybe to re-emerge down the road. Gonzaga, meanwhile loses a big plug in the middle, and may actually be vulnerable in the WCC.

USC -- No one expected DeMar DeRozan, Daniel Hackett or Taj Gibson to return, it only became more obvious after Tim Floyd's sudden loss of energy to coach.

Wake Forest -- Not really a surprise Jeff Teague decided to make it official. He and James Johnson had started looking to the NBA Draft sometime in February.

Texas A&M -- As nice, and unsurprising, as it was to get Donald Sloan and Bryan Davis back for their senior year, it was a big blow to lose the blossoming big man Chinemelu Elonu. Especially after sportswriters in Texas had finally learned to spell his name without double checking the Aggie media guide.

Draft Deadline Decisions: Team Winners and Losers originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jodie Meeks to Remain in NBA Draft

Matt Snyder — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:25:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky, SEC, NBA Prospects

According to an ESPN.com report by Andy Katz, Jodie Meeks is still going to forgo his senior year in favor of entering the NBA Draft. Meeks had joined the early entrant list to the NBA Draft prior to the hiring of John Calipari as the Wildcats' head basketball coach. Once Calipari was brought on board, there was some thought amongst the general public Calipari's presence would somehow convince Meeks to change his decision, but that isn't the case.

Meeks was arguably the best player in the SEC last season. The 6-foot-4 junior averaged 23.7 points per game, and put together a brilliant 54-point outburst against Tennessee mid-January, which was a school record. He shot brilliantly for the season, hitting 41 percent of his threes and 90 percent of his free throws.

Oddly enough, the loss of Meeks actually appears to alleviate the crowded UK roster a bit. After the number Calipari has done in recruiting since his arrival, the Wildcats are absolutely loaded for 2009-2010, especially in the backcourt. Incoming freshman point guards Eric Bledsoe and John Wall are incredibly touted. Talented JuCo transfer Darnell Dodson also joins Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins, giving Calipari five bonafide guards to rotate as he sees fit.

While it would be nice for any team to have a talent like Meeks, the Wildcats seem as equipped as anyone in the country right now to deal with such a loss. In fact, losing power forward Patrick Patterson from the inside would have hurt much more, due to the way the team is currently constructed. Patterson had entered the draft, but has since changed his mind and decided to return to Lexington.

As things stand, Kentucky is easily a top 10 team for next season -- if not better -- and that's without last season's best player.

Jodie Meeks to Remain in NBA Draft originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sendek Begins Life After Harden

Gary Washburn — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona State, Pac-10, NBA Prospects

Arizona State coach Herb Sendek knew the James Harden era in Tempe would last a maximum of two years. Harden returned to school after a sparkling freshman season and exceeded that first year, leading the Sun Devils to their first NCAA tournament appearance in six years and earning first-team All America honors. Now Harden is gone along with gifted senior forward Jeff Pendergraph, leaving Sendek with a major challenge heading into next season.

A five-man recruiting class along with the return of improving point guard Derek Glasser should keep ASU competitive but remaining in the Pac-10's first division won't be easy.

"We're working on that right now, it will continue to evolve for us," Sendek told FanHouse. "Some of those questions will best be answered once we're practicing, to see how guys play together. We will have a better understanding of their strengths, areas of improvement and I think that will evolve for us next year as we move forward. At this time it's hard to pinpoint precisely how all those things are going to come together. I do think we're going to have to rely on that (class for immediate contribution and I think it's a step toward improving our depth, something that was an issue for us at times last year."

Sendek admitted the Sun Devils will rely heavily on their recruiting class, headed by shooting guard Demetrius Walker, perhaps the heir apparent to Harden, and combo forward Victor Rudd. Sendek promised not to put any additional pressure on his freshmen or expect a Harden-type first season. Arizona State will be a team that lacks star power initially but may prove to be a formidable opponent by season's end.

The loss of Harden, a projected top-five pick, and Pendergraph, likely a second rounder, robs Sendek of 34 points and nearly 14 rebounds per game. Glasser emerged as one of the conference's top point guards as his junior season progressed while sophomore sharpshooter Rihards Kuksiks will have an expanded role. Sendek is excited about the task of continuing the growth of Arizona State basketball.

"I don't think we are going to ask any one player to be James or Jeff for that matter," he said. "Once again I think our team is going to have a very different look. We have different personnel, guys that we are going to try to integrate into our system. We're not looking at it as one-for-one proposition. I think we're looking at a much more holistically. We're looking at it from a team standpoint and I think we'll be different. It is a big [recruiting] class and there will be a learning curve. Every year we welcome new guys, exciting freshman into the league into college basketball and that's one of the things that stirs interest and it help keeps it exciting."

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Crew members for NASCAR driver Joey Logano (20) right, wait to be fueled as rain falls at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., before the day begins for qualifying for the NASCAR Pocono 500 auto race, Friday, June 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Russ Hamilton, Sr.)

Crews push cars for NASCAR driver David Ruetimann (00), left, and Kasey Kahne (9), right, to be fueled as rain falls at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., Friday, June 5, 2009. The Pocono 500 is scheduled for Saturday. (AP Photo/Russ Hamilton, Sr.)

Baltimore Orioles' Aubrey Huff slides back to third base late as he is caught leading off by the Seattle Mariners' Rob Johnson in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Seattle, Wednesday, June 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)

Baltimore Orioles manager Dave Trembley (47) argues with home plate umpire Tony Randazzo after a ball hit by Orioles' Aubrey Huff was originally called a home run, then reviewed and called a foul in the first inning of a baseball game in Seattle, Wednesday, June 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)

Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, of Japan, singles in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles, extending his hitting streak to 27 games, during a baseball game in Seattle on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)

Pall bearers prepare to unload the casket of Wayman Tisdale during his funeral, Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Tulsa, Okla. The former University of Oklahoma basketball star and popular jazz musician died last week after a long battle with cancer. He was 44. (AP Photo/Tom Gilbert)

The hearse carrying the casket of Wayman Tisdale moves through Tulsa, Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Tulsa, Okla. The former University of Oklahoma basketball star and popular jazz musician died last week after a long battle with cancer. He was 44. (AP Photo/Shane Bevel)

John Wall, flanked by his sister Tonya Pulley and Dr. Frank Summerfield, formally announced during a press conference on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, that he would attend the University of Kentucky next fall to play basketball. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

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John Wall formally announced during a press conference on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, that he would attend the University of Kentucky next fall to play basketball. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

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Sendek Begins Life After Harden originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Players Rapidly Deserting USC

Chas Rich — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:24:00 EST

Filed under: USC, Pac-10, NBA Prospects

Will the last person please turn out the lights at the Galen Center.

USC headed into April as a likely preseason Top 25 team with a strong core coming back and a talented recruiting class coming in. The Trojans enter June with most of the core gone and that recruiting class dwindling. Oh, and a coach that appears to be hanging by a thread while the NCAA circles closer and closer.

Let's recap the departures. DeMar DeRozan briefly made noises about coming back for his sophomore season, but ultimately chose the path of one-and-done that was expected when he signed with USC last year. Then juniors Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett followed.

The recruiting class that looked so stunning rapidly collapsed. Renardo Sidney and USC parted company as the Sidney family worried about Tim Floyd and USC's looming NCAA issues. Plus, USC worried about Sidney's baggage. Solomon Hill backed out of his commitment to re-commit to Arizona. Then Noel Johnson was granted his release from his letter of intent and is now looking at LSU, UNLV, Georgia Tech and others.

The one piece of good news that USC got has of course gone up in smoke. Marcus Johnson was given an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA last week. Johnson had averaged only 3.6 points per game after transferring from UConn. He had a chance to be have a much larger role on the team with all of the players departing and not coming.

Johnson took the weekend to think about it. He decided he would rather take his chances in the NBA Draft. He will likely be an undrafted player and head to Europe.

"We have had a difficult three or four weeks," Floyd told a group of USC fans at a booster event last week.

Lamont Jones, their last remaining star recruit is rumored to be ready to ask out of his own NLI. So the fun keeps coming.

Players Rapidly Deserting USC originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Villain? Enabler? Vaccaro Stays Defiant

Greg Couch — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Prospects, Recruiting, FanHouse Exclusive

It started at Sonny Vaccaro's ABCD Basketball Camp, a camp, yes, but also a meet-and-greet for street agents and young, impressionable kids. Street agents, runners, slimeball AAU coaches all start getting their hands on our kids early, and ...

"The only problem I have is the word 'slime,' '' Vaccaro said. "A lot of what you say is right. But why is that word only connected to AAU? You've got to define what that means and who you're talking about. When you say slime, that envelopes everybody."

Yes, OK. Well, Rodney Guillory met 15-year old basketball phenom O.J Mayo at the camp in 2003.

Guillory went on to become a known street agent or runner, which is a much nicer term than bag man. He allegedly took $250,000 to direct Mayo to an agent, Bill Duffy Associates, shower the kid with TVs, clothes and other improper gifts and get his confidence.

"You're a purist at heart,'' Vaccaro said. "You still think there's virginity in this.''

Yes, OK. Well, Louis Johnson, a one-time hanger-on to the Mayo entourage said USC coach Tim Floyd also was in on it, paying Guillory at least $1,000 in cash to help get Mayo to Southern California. Mayo did play there.

But this isn't about one dirty case. It's a dirty culture. Mayo is just one example. And it's symbolic of so much that they met under Vaccaro's roof, because Vaccaro has a clear role in developing the way all of this works. He is the former shoe executive who started the Shoe Wars between sneaker companies, which all but professionalized youth sports with shoe company money, and...

"OK, so you want to start with that,'' Vaccaro said. "Let me say this and hopefully you understand: I am obviously the person who started the whole thing. ABCD camps, all these things, big-time tournaments, promotional things. The only problem I have with whoever the detractors are, and I hope you describe this well, is that I accept the responsibility, and I'm proud of it.

"If someone says I ruined basketball, I want them to explain why I did it alone. Everyone took money from the shoe companies. If they think this is a negative, then why absolve the NCAA and NBA? They took the money.''

This is what it's like spending an hour on the phone with Vaccaro. He's the godfather of youth sports, and explains his role convincingly at times, but at other times with a galling lack of accountability and recognition.

He has not ruined basketball. He has helped some kids to become recognized and to develop skills against the nation's best players.

But he has also set up a culture where the Guillorys of the world meet the Mayos, where street agents get control of kids, and shoe companies control AAU and high school teams, and everyone's financial interests meet in an unseemly way around children.

"No one stopped it when it started,'' Vaccaro said. "It's like a Trojan horse. They put it in front of the gate, and they opened the gate.''

Who put it in front of the gate?

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Word of God Christian Academy's point guard John Wall discusses his decision to commit to playing basketball at Kentucky during a news conference in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Word of God Christian Academy's point guard John Wall, center, discusses his decision to commit to playing basketball at Kentucky during a news conference in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, May 20, 2009. At left is Word of God Christian Academy's Dr. Frank Summerfield and at right is Wall's sister Tonya Pulley. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Word of God Christian Academy's point guard John Wall, right, and Dr. Frank Summerfield discuss Wall's decision to commit to playing college basketball at Kentucky during a news conference in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Word of God Christian Academy's point guard John Wall discusses his decision to commit to playing college basketball at Kentucky during a news conference in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

British actor Russell Brand watches from court side as the Los Angeles Lakers play the Houston Rockets during Game 7 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoff game in Los Angeles, May 17, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL ENTERTAINMENT)

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British actor Russell Brand watches from court side as the Los Angeles Lakers play the Houston Rockets during Game 7 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoff game in Los Angeles, May 17, 2009. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES SPORT ENTERTAINMENT BASKETBALL)

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Cab driver Mohammed Jiddou,sits in his cab on May 14, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jiddou,who got into an altercation with Mississippi basketball coach Andy Kennedy said he's frequently recognized these days by passengers and doesn't always feel safe driving the streets because of last December's incident. (AP Photo/The Enquirer, Michael E. Keating

Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair, right, secures a rebound against Georgetown's Austin Freeman (15) during second half action at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Saturday, January 3, 2009. Pitt defeated Georgetown, 70-54. (Chuck Myers/MCT)

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Pittsburgh forward DeJuan Blair (45) puts up a shot over Georgetown center Greg Monroe (10) during first half action at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Saturday, January 3, 2009. Pitt defeated Georgetown, 70-54. (Chuck Myers/MCT)

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Pittsburgh's Gary McGhee (52) goes high to grab a rebound between Georgetown's Greg Monroe (10) and DaJuan Summers (3) during first half action at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Saturday, January 3, 2009. Pitt defeated Georgetown, 70-54. (Chuck Myers/MCT)

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Vaccaro starts with a history lesson, way back when Converse dominated basketball. He went to work for Nike, signed Michael Jordan, and helped to turn the place into a giant.

"We [Nike] thought, 'We'll pay coaches [to have their college teams wear Nike] and give them shoes for free,'' said Vaccaro, who's 69. "In the late '70s and '80s, we paid some of the NCAA coaches more money than the schools did. They weren't making a lot of money then. That's where I knew we had a bonanza. That's how it all started.

"And why didn't they stop Nike and Sonny Vaccaro then? They wanted the money. The presidents didn't stop me. Sure, give John Thompson the money. Give Eddie Sutton the money. Give Jim Boeheim the money. They lost their virginity a long time ago. How could it not be wrong then, but it's wrong now.''

Because then, you were dealing with men. Now, it is down to high school kids and younger. It's different with 13-year-olds.

"I'm not disputing that,'' he said. "The argument you're preaching is a good argument. But no one stopped it when it started.''

It didn't just start, though, Sonny. You started it.

"I'm not saying what you're saying is wrong,'' he said. "But the rules allow it. Parents, you should have better control of your situation.

"You have to admit that the signing of Michael Jordan was one of the greatest things done in the history of anything. It made Nike. The NBA took my money. The Bulls? The profited. We marketed the hell out of Michael Jordan.

"I wasn't chastised for that. I was chastised when I went to AAU, summer leagues, high school basketball. But everything I did was accepted by the people who talk about me behind my back now. Everything I did, they let me do.''

Vaccaro said things didn't start to escalate until he left Nike for Adidas in 1991. The shoe companies started bidding higher and higher in the Shoe Wars for AAU teams, high school teams, college teams to wear their stuff, affiliate with their camps.

With the bigger bucks around young kids, the street agents and runners started slithering in. Vaccaro feels that many kids are better represented now than they were, that many AAU coaches are looking out for the kids, and that when control was with the NCAA and NBA, it was not about looking out for kids' best interest.

It's hard to argue with any of that. Innocence is gone from all angles.

"Part of beating Sonny Vaccaro up,'' he said, "is I took the kids away from the 'sanctity' of college basketball.''

Vaccaro mentions that he left the shoe companies two years ago, and no one has stopped the camps or shoe deals. And he points to several college teams today, including Kentucky, Illinois and DePaul, saying they have gotten oral commitments from eighth and ninth graders.

So they also are getting their hands on young kids.

"What's the difference between an agent and a runner, and a college coach and an assistant coach?'' he said. "No difference, except the agent and runner are going to make money off the individual, but the individual is going to get paid by a shoe contract or pro contract.

"With the college coach and assistant coach, the player they're recruiting gets nothing. But the coach gets a $3 million raise.''

The player does get a chance for a college education.

Vacarro's latest cause is to fight the NBA and NCAA over the new age limit rules, prohibiting kids from going straight from high school to the NBA. On this one, he is 100 percent right, as no one should be stopping 18-year-old men from starting their careers. Yet again, the NBA and NCAA do not look out for the players, but for themselves.

If a player goes to college, and plays in the NCAA Tournament, then he comes to the NBA as a fully marketed commodity, not an unknown high school grad. Meanwhile, the NCAA gets the best players, and credibility, for its tournament. So Vaccaro has started to help direct some high school grads not into colleges, but into pro leagues overseas, where they are getting six- and seven-figure contracts.

He looks to the NBA conference finals, with teams filled with alumni from his camps or players who jumped straight from high school before the age rule.

"Orlando. Two of their best players are Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis,'' he said. "LeBron James, high school player. Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum high school players. J.R. Smith, a very valuable player of the Nuggets.

"If everything is so bad for them, how could it be that the four best teams in all the world, and every one of those kids, except Bynum, played at my camp?''

And Mayo, he said, makes $4 million a year in Memphis.

Sure, we hear about the ones it works out for. But too many young kids don't make it, and don't need slimeballs handling them.

"I'm not saying that what you're saying is wrong," Vaccaro said.

Only that the Trojan horse is already in the gates, shown again, allegedly, with Guillory, Mayo, Floyd and the USC, yes, Trojans.

Villain? Enabler? Vaccaro Stays Defiant originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 20 May 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After Defections, Cal, Washington Are Pac-10 Favorites

Gary Washburn — Sat, 16 May 2009 21:15:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac-10, NBA Prospects, Oregon State

The upheaval at USC and constant defections at UCLA may have sent conference supremacy north.

The NBA draft's early entries have one month to return to school (June 15), but it doesn't appear any of the Pac-10 entries are coming back. Six underclassmen -- USC's DeMar DeRozan and Taj Gibson, UCLA's Jrue Holiday, the Arizona duo of Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger and Arizona State's James Harden -- will participate in the draft combine beginning May 28 in Chicago, and none are likely to return to their schools. Even Holiday, a projected late first-rounder, is reportedly close to hiring an agent and remaining in the draft.

UCLA also loses All-America point guard Darren Collison and key scorer Josh Shipp, leaving the Bruins young, raw and virtually unproven. The Trojans, meanwhile, who made an improbable run to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Pac-10 tournament, could be gutted with Daniel Hackett likely headed for Italy, top recruit Renardo Sidney bolting for Mississippi State and the program under major scrutiny regarding allegations of payments to representatives for former guard O.J. Mayo. Coach Tim Floyd, if he remains at USC, will be in another major rebuilding mode in Los Angeles.

Such ruin in Southern California and major defections with the Arizona schools leaves the two most stable programs in Washington and California. The Huskies lose all-time rebounder Jon Brockman and solid guard Justin Dentmon, but coach Lorenzo Romar will depend on freshman talent along with Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Isaiah Thomas, improving Quincy Pondexter, who sparkled toward season's end, and defensive ace Venoy Overton.

Romar, always a master recruiter, was able to get Tacoma, Wash., guard Abdul Gabby, who is expected to join Thomas in the backcourt. Bruising juco forward Charles Garcia and freshman Clarence Trent will make the Huskies perhaps the deepest team on the West Coast.

California returns four of the five starters that stunned the conference by winning 22 games and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Gifted but enigmatic swingman Patrick Christopher decided to return to school for his senior season while speedy guard Jerome Randle and redshirt senior Theo Robertson give the Bears a chance to compete for the conference title.

And there will be some noise heard from the Oregon schools with Ernie Kent's job essentially at stake this season and the Ducks coming off an awful 2-16 conference record. Craig Robinson brought home a CBI title -- College Basketball Invitational for those non-diehards -- to Oregon State in his first season and the Beavers return their top four scorers.

After Defections, Cal, Washington Are Pac-10 Favorites originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 16 May 2009 21:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mississippi State May Have the Best Front Court in the SEC ... or Not

Chas Rich — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:35:00 EST

Filed under: Mississippi State, SEC, NBA Prospects, Recruiting

On paper, it looks like the Bulldogs may be loaded up front in 2009. Forward Jarvis Varnado, the nation's leading shot-blocker for the past two seasons, has decided to return for his senior season.

Last week, the program added a commitment from Renardo Sidney, one of the top power forwards in the 2009 recruiting class. Plus, John Riek, a 7-foot-1 center, has signed a letter of intent with Mississippi State instead of Cincinnati. Mississippi State has size and talent up front that compares favorably with Kentucky and anyone in the nation.

That is, if they all make it on to the court.

Sidney is under heavy NCAA scrutiny for his academics and his family's connections with a Reebok shoe representative, something the Bulldogs are acutely aware of, as they have already retained the services of attorney Mike Glazier, who has represented Oklahoma, Louisville, Villanova and others in the past (including Mississippi State's football program) when dealing with NCAA investigations.

Glazier was specifically retained for dealing with Sidney, suggesting that, at the very least, Sidney may not be a lock to make it out to the court for his expected single season at MSU.

As for Riek, he's at the IMG Academy in Florida still recovering from knee surgery that kept him from signing with Cinci after attending prep school in Massachusetts in 2007. He spent last year at the IMG Basketball Academy on scholarship while rehabbing from knee ligament surgery. Oh, and the NCAA has kept tabs on Riek as well, after actually putting his name in the NBA Draft last year.

Ultimately the Bulldogs could have one of the deepest, biggest, and defensively dominating frontcourt in the country in 2009. Or it could just be Jarvis Varnardo trying to do it all. There may be no team harder to predict before the season begins all because of eligibility issues.

Mississippi State May Have the Best Front Court in the SEC ... or Not originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 12 May 2009 10:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kentucky Rising to Early Preseason Top 10

Chas Rich — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:07:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky, SEC, NBA Prospects, Coaches

And John Wall still has not committed anywhere.

Kentucky Coach John Calipari's claims that he is not a "quick fix guy" become harder to believe, even as it is only May. Not only has he retained recruits Daniel Orton, one of the top five centers in the 2009 class, along with shooting guard Jon Hood after taking over from Billy Gillispie. He immediately brought in five-star player stud, DeMarcus Cousins. He just added the best unsigned point guard not named John Wall in Eric Bledsoe.

Now if that was not enough to make Kentucky look very promising, Calipari has convinced sophomore Patrick Patterson to withdraw from the NBA Draft. This despite being a likely first round pick.
Patterson, through a statement released by Kentucky, indicated that being coached by Calipari was a key reason to come back for his junior year. It almost has a sense of inevitability that junior guard Jodie Meeks will be coming back as well.

Even if Calipari does not land Wall, Kentucky looks loaded for 2009. Good luck, managing expectations in the Commonwealth.

Kentucky Rising to Early Preseason Top 10 originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 09 May 2009 23:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeremy Tyler Rocks the Establishment

Greg Couch — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:46:00 EST

Filed under: Louisville, NBA Prospects, Recruiting

It makes too much sense. That's the problem. The logic sounds too right. But Jeremy Tyler is a trailblazer now.

Not a Portland Trail Blazer. No, he won't be allowed to play in the NBA for two years under the terms of league commissioner David Stern's cold-hearted, disingenuous rule requiring young men, basically, to become marketed stars in college before starting their chosen profession.

Well, Tyler is getting around that rule, getting around a system that's not built for him. Here's the plan: Tyler, a 17-year-old high school junior in San Diego, has decided to bypass his senior year -- remember, high school -- to play pro in Europe.

Why? To improve his game. Going against pros, he will learn far more than he would against high school kids this fall, college men next year. The plan calls for him to get his GED. As a side, he'll make six figures instead of making nothing while waiting to go to the NBA. There must be some flaw in that. It's all too neat somehow. Does our sports system now encourage kids to be high school dropouts? In Tyler's case, it might be the right thing to do.

"Nowadays, people look to college for more off-the-court stuff, versus being in the gym and getting better," Tyler told The New York Times.

"If you're really focused on getting better, you go play pro somewhere."

The problem is that NBA scouts seem to be agreeing with this. Last year, Brandon Jennings from Los Angeles was considered the nation's best high school point guard. He finished high school, then chose not to go to college, but instead to play professionally in Italy. He has described an ugly scenario there, where everyone treats him as a kid. Sometimes, he sits out games. It is not the glamour he expected.

"It's tough man, I'll tell you that," he told the Times. "It can break you."

Still, Jennings is making over $1 million, and is expected to be an early first-round draft pick in June.

Jennings was the first player to choose Europe over college since the NBA rule. And now Tyler is the next level, moving the bar one more step by bypassing his senior year of high school.

Next up? The line will keep moving. Next up, 16-year-olds. Then 15. Meanwhile, the street agents who run college basketball get more and more powerful. Tyler and Jennings both used Sonny Vaccaro, the former adidas exec who all-but professionalized youth basketball, to help with their deals.

Slippery-slope arguments are never the best, really. But Jennings broke ground, and now Tyler is following with his own twist, and the slide has started.

These lines aren't easy to draw. Eighteen-year-olds are adults. But isn't your sensibility bothered at all by a 17-year-old? That's just one year different.

Something seems wrong, though, when a 17-year-old puts sports ahead of education.

And think of your own childhood. As a high school junior, would you have been OK moving to Europe -- Tyler hasn't picked a country or team yet -- and just living there as a professional?

Do you speak the language? Are you ready for the daily responsibilities of paying bills, budgeting money? Do you know how to do your laundry?

In most cases, this would be doomed for failure. But maybe Tyler, a 6-foot-11 center, is too good for this to flop. Already, he's projected as the No. 1 pick in the draft in two years.

He becomes the test case. And believe it: Kids are watching.

So is the NBA. So is the NCAA.

We further professionalize our kids, and then the kids who aren't quite Tyler's level will forgo studies to try Europe. How will that one work out?

There's the slippery-slope thing again.

The best thing about this is the delicious screw-the-system aspect. As I understood it, Stern put in the age rule, which technically requires players to wait a year after high school to be eligible for the NBA, as a humanitarian thing.

Most players who jumped from high school to the NBA weren't doing well, and Stern suggested that the move was too much for them. They needed a year of college not just for basketball but also for life experience. They weren't ready for all the spotlight.

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North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams and players Ty Lawson, left, and Wayne Ellington settle in behind the microphones for a news conference at the Smith Center on Thursday April 23, 2009 in Chapel Hill, N.C. Lawson and Ellington announced Thursday that they would enter the draft, ending their college careers a few weeks after leading the Tar Heels to their fifth NCAA championship. (AP Photo/The News & Observer, Robert Willet ) ** ONLINE OK **

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams answers a question during a press conference for Ty Lawson (left) and Wayne Ellington (right), who announced their intent to leave school at the end of their junior year and enter the NBA draft on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at the Smith Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

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North Carolina's Ty Lawson (left) and Wayne Ellington (right) announced their intent to leave school at the end of their junior year and enter the NBA draft during a press conference with head coach Roy Williams on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at the Smith Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

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North Carolina coach Roy Williams and Wayne Ellington enjoy a laugh during a press conference where Ellington announced his intent to leave school at the end of his junior year and enter the NBA draft on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at the Smith Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

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North Carolina coach Roy Williams and Wayne Ellington talk following a press conference where Ellington announced his intent to leave school at the end of his junior year and enter the NBA draft on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at the Smith Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

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Davidson's Stephen Curry laughs with Fred Sanders following a news conference where Curry announced his intent to enter the NBA draft in Davidson, North Carolina, on Thursday, April 23, 2009. (Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT)

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Davidson College head basketball coach Bob McKillop listens to a question for Stephen Curry, who announced that he would forego his senior year and enter the NBA draft in Davidson, North Carolina, on Thursday, April 23, 2009. (Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT)

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Davidson's Stephen Curry paused during a news conference where he announced his intent to forego his senior year at Davidson College and enter the NBA draft in Davidson, North Carolina, on Thursday, April 23, 2009. (Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT)

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From left, former NBA star Dell Curry, Davidson College head basketball coach Bob McKillop and Stephen Curry talk following a news conference where Curry announced his intent to enter the NBA draft in Davidson, North Carolina, on Thursday, April 23, 2009. (Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT)

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U.S. President Barack Obama (C) is pictured with players from the 2008 NCAA national champions, the University of Florida football team during a ceremny held in their honor in the East Room of the White House in Washington April 23, 2009. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES POLITICS)

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Call him Nanny Stern, as he just wanted what was best for our kids. Sure, sure. First, Stern conveniently made these touching comments only after his endless promotion of LeBron James, who had made the jump from high school.

No, Stern's real reason for the rule was that NBA teams didn't want to fork over millions to young players who weren't ready. Teams can't help themselves but to draft high school jumpers for some reason. With the rule, players develop on someone else's dime.

Also, the NBA would no longer fill up with unknown high school kids, but rather with college stars, marketed wonderfully by the hype of the NCAA Tournament.

Meanwhile, the NCAA was happy to go along with it, as its tournament was starting to waver in image because all the best players weren't bothering to go to college.

Well, college is usually the right choice. But not for everyone. An 18-year old-man is an adult who should be able to start his career, not be forced to play a year without pay to benefit others, benefit the system.

So Tyler is fighting that. He's not going to be well-known after coming back from Spain, if that's where he goes. And NBA teams will risk losing him to other NBA teams. Or, heaven forbid, the kid decides he loves Spain and wants to stay there.

The more kids who go to Europe, the more likely Stern's rule will fall. And look for the NCAA to start talking about paying players. Come on, some poor young men can't even afford a plane ticket home or a Big Mac. Just a few bucks to college players?

Real argument: We need to pay them to keep up with European teams. Slippery slope. But Tyler might be starting something big here. We just don't know what yet.

Jeremy Tyler Rocks the Establishment originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now North Carolina Can Fully Enter the John Wall Sweepstakes

Chas Rich — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:50:00 EST

Filed under: UNC, ACC, NBA Prospects, Recruiting, North Carolina

I never was clear why Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington waited until now to make their decision to enter the NBA Draft. The choice was never really in doubt.

The junior guards both are likely to go in the first round of the NBA Draft. Both nearly went pro as sophomores last season so the chances that they would stick around after winning the NCAA championship seemed slim at best.

Lawson is expected to be a lottery pick while Ellington will be a late first-round choice.The departure of both thins the UNC backcourt. Right now it would be sophomore Larry Drew running the point while incoming shooting guard Dexter Strickland would slide into Ellington's spot.

Of course, the departure of Lawson may also mean North Carolina could make a full run at uber-point guard recruit John Wall. Coach Roy Williams has been keeping in touch with him since the NCAA tornament ended. Despite some in Wall's entourage rumored to be against Williams, it is hard to say Roy Williams and UNC would have no shot.

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Davidson's Stephen Curry, right, talks with his father and former NBA player Dell, left, and coach Bob McKillop, center, after a news conference at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., Thursday, April 23, 2009. Curry announced he would enter the NBA draft. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Davidson's Stephen Curry smiles during a news conference at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., Thursday, April 23, 2009. Curry announced he would enter the NBA draft. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Oklahoma City high school star Xavier Henry, right, announces that he has committed to play basketball for Kansas, during a news conference in Oklahoma City, Thursday, April 23, 2009. Henry is considered the third-rated prospect in the country by both Rivals.com and ESPNU. Looking on at left is his mother, Barbara Henry. (AP Photo)

Oklahoma City high school star Xavier Henry announces that he has committed to play basketball for Kansas during a news conference at Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City, Thursday, April 23, 2009. Henry is considered the third-rated prospect in the country by both Rivals.com and ESPNU. (AP Photo)

Davidson's Stephen Curry pauses during a news conference at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., Thursday, April 23, 2009. Curry announced he would enter the NBA draft. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Davidson's Stephen Curry, left, is congratulated by Davidson College president Tom Ross, right, after a news conference at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., Thursday, April 23, 2009. Curry announced he would enter the NBA draft. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Oklahoma City high school star Xavier Henry laughs during a news conference in Oklahoma City, Thursday, April 23, 2009. Henry, who announced that he has committed to play basketball for Kansas, is considered the third-rated prospect in the country by both Rivals.com and ESPNU. (AP Photo)

Davidson's Stephen Curry, right, and his coach Bob McKillop, left, take questions during a news conference at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., Thursday, April 23, 2009. Curry announced he would enter the NBA draft. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Davidson's Stephen Curry, right, talks with his father Dell, left, and coach Bob McKillop, center, after a news conference at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., Thursday, April 23, 2009. Curry announced he would enter the NBA draft. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Davidson's Stephen Curry, left, chats with his mother Sonya, center, as his father Dell, right, looks on after a news conference at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., Thursday, April 23, 2009. Curry announced he would enter the NBA draft. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Now North Carolina Can Fully Enter the John Wall Sweepstakes originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Transition to Football Gaining Popularity

Matt Snyder — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Duke, Penn State, Washington, ACC, Big Ten, Pac-10, NBA Prospects, Rumors

The few weeks after the NCAA Basketball season concludes are traditionally chock full of player movement announcements -- new recruits, transfers, entry entrants into the NBA draft, etc. This year has been no exception, but there is a trend gaining more steam. Having a collegiate basketball player become a football player isn't a new thing. Antonio Gates is an All-Pro tight end who didn't play a snap of college football, for example.

Still, the movement from football to basketball seems to be increasing in recent weeks. It makes sense, considering the speed, quickness and agility needed in both. For post players in basketball, they've become accustomed to a physical game anyway, and have the necessary strength-athleticism combo for a position like tight end. Here are four currently considering the shift:

Greg Paulus - Duke's former point guard is supposedly considering entering the NFL draft -- where the Packers are interested -- tranferring to Michigan to play football, or staying at Duke to play football. That's probably not all he's considering, but the high school All-American quarterback definitely has options. Holding a clipboard for the Packers, playing quarterback in the Big House, or playing wide receiver on a famiilar campus all seem appealing to varying degrees, so we'll see how he chooses. Of course, you could argue picking basketball over football was the wrong move in the first place, so there is precedent for a sub-par decision.

Jamelle Cornley - Here's a guy who played basketball like it was football at times. At 6-foot-4, 248-pounds, he definitely has the frame to take on the more physical sport. Apparently, he never got the chance to try his hand at the gridiron because his father didn't allow it when Jamelle was growing up. Now, after leading the Penn State Nittany Lions to an NIT Championship as a senior, Cornely is reportedly considering a go-round in pads. In fact, he would have a year of collegiate football eligibility, so it's possible he's added to the fray at Penn State for next season. He's also considering his NBA, NFL and overseas basketball options.

Jon Brockman - Friday night during his on-air visit with the Seattle Mariners broadcast team, Brockman mentioned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had contacted him and were very interested in the big man. He hasn't even been on a football field competitively since junior high. He said he played some receiver and some lineman. So that narrows it down, I guess? Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing in at 255, though, makes Brockman yet another perfect tight end candidate, should he answer the Bucs' call. For what it's worth, he said he wanted to keep pursuing basketball, but if that didn't work out he'd certainly give football a try. Can't say I blame him.

Fendi Onobun - The former Arizona forward has never played football, but he's got the body for it (6-foot-6, 250 pounds). Onobun played basketball like a football player as well, but he had much less grace than Cornley. Unlike Cornley, he has no chance of playing in the NBA, so the NFL would be his only route, should he wish to make money in America playing a sport. He's currently learning the game, and has worked out for the Patroits, Panthers and Bills. His potential position? You guessed it: Tight end.

Transition to Football Gaining Popularity originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DeJuan Blair May Have Cost Hasheem Thabeet Some Money

Chas Rich — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:33:00 EST

Filed under: Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Big East, NBA Prospects

There were quite a few NBA scouts in attendance at the XL Center in Hartford to see what Hasheem Thabeet would do against DeJuan Blair, one of the top big men in the Big East. It was no contest. Blair was tougher, more aggressive, he shot better, he grabbed rebounds, and he literally put Thabeet on the deck.

Blair finished with 22 points and 23 rebounds, and his play put Thabeet on the bench for almost half the game with foul trouble. Thabeet only finished with 2 blocks, 4 rebounds and 5 points. That the 7-foot-3 Thabeet was dominated by a stronger, more determined 6-foot-7 Blair had to be an eye-opener for the NBA scouts.

Thabeet has been looking like an unstoppable force in the pain for the past few weeks. He completely intimidated entire opposing teams from coming into the paint for fear of having their shot blocked. Coaches like Jim Boeheim were comparing him to Patrick Ewing. Well, Ewing was never abused the way Blair treated Thabeet.

Thabeet is still a big man, and as the cliche goes, you can't teach 7-foot-3. That said, if there was anyone suggesting that maybe Thabeet might get drafted among the first five picks, that should be finished. The NBA is littered with promising big men who were too offensively limited in college and never advanced that part of their game. A performance like this could be the sort of thing that sticks with scouts and general managers. Heck, a performance like this could potentially keep Thabeet at UConn for his senior season. A thought that should worry most of the Big East.

On the flip side, DeJuan Blair is only a sophomore and a couple mock drafts already had him going in the top-20 picks. Blair has continually raised his game when facing other top big-men. This can only help his stock and make the increase the chances of him going pro after this season.

DeJuan Blair May Have Cost Hasheem Thabeet Some Money originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brandon Costner Denies NBA Rumor

Will Brinson — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: NC State, ACC, NBA Prospects, Fans, Media Watch

Brandon Costner, right now, is all that Sidney Lowe has in Raleigh. Take him away and there's the semi-emergence of Courtney Fells, Ben McCauley's swan song, and the unlikely possibility of landing John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Which isn't saying much.

Logically, the news/rumor that Costner was bolting for the NBA after this season should be terrifying for Sid. Fortunately for Lowe, though, Costner is referring to that report as "one of those crazy Internet rumors."

"I definitely didn't definitively say I'm leaving," Costner said. "Just another one of those crazy Internet rumors that goes around about me. I'd rather people just shut up and stop making up stuff."

That's, um, definite, right? Bear in mind, here, that there's a lot more at play than just what Costner wants right now. For starters, there's a lot less chance that Lowe lands Cousins or Wall if they think Costner won't be there to help them on offense next year. And there's a lot less chance that Costner wants to hang around without either of those guys.

Add in Cousins and Wall and the Wolfpack could be temporarily dangerous; take away all three guys and State fans are in a nightmare. In other words, there's a lot of ifs here, and there's a distinct possibility that Lowe just wants Costner to act like he's hanging around regardless, at least for now.

Brandon Costner Denies NBA Rumor originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John Wall Won't Be Swayed By Derrick Favors' Decision to Attend Georgia Tech

Will Brinson — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:20:00 EST

Filed under: Duke, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Memphis, NC State, Oregon, ACC, Big 12, NBA Prospects, Coaches, Recruiting, University of Miami

Derrick Favors and John Wall are the top two recruits in the nation -- Favors, as we mentioned yesterday, was rated number one by Scouts and Wall has been listed as Rivals number one overall prospect.

Favors is now off the board, having committed to be a Yellow Jacket for ~~one year~~ his college career. Wall, meanwhile, remains on the market, so to speak, but there's good news for the teams (Baylor, Duke, N.C. State, Memphis mainly; Kansas, Oregon and Miami are also in consideration) currently pursuing the point guard.

He won't be swayed by Favors decision to attend Georgia Tech when making his decision.

Word of God [Raleigh] coach Levi Beckwith confirmed that notion Thursday.

"I doubt he's going to Georgia Tech," Beckwith said, laughing during a telephone interview.

"I don't think he's sitting by the TV or sitting by the radio trying to find a reason to go where he's going to go," Beckwith said.

So, in theory, if you're Sidney Lowe and the NCSU Wolfpack, you're feeling fairly decent about your chances. Although, purportedly, Wall's commitment to the Pack would probably hinge on landing DeMarcus Cousins. Otherwise, expect to see him roll to one of the higher profiles schools that have courted him for the past few years; although regardless, he's going to hold off for a while before announcing where he actually attends.

John Wall Won't Be Swayed By Derrick Favors' Decision to Attend Georgia Tech originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Derrick Favors Is Very, Very Good: Video Reminder

Will Brinson — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Georgia Tech, ACC, NBA Prospects, Recruiting, Video

Derrick Favors, the number-one ranked college basketball prospect in the country, just announced that he will attend Georgia Tech for his brief stint in the NCAA. As a reminder that Favors is kind of decent, enjoy the following YouTube mashup of him posting a 42-point, 20-rebound, 12-block line.

So, yeah, to say that he's good is probably an understatement -- Favors will most likely only be in Atlanta for a single year, but he's going to make Georgia Tech very, very watchable while he's there.

Derrick Favors Is Very, Very Good: Video Reminder originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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