College Times

Media Credit: Rob Kim

In a move that could potentially shake up the current course basketball players who wish to eventually enter the NBA draft, heralded recruit Brandon Jennings is forgoing his commitment with the University of Arizona to play professionally in Europe next season.

Under the current rule, players cannot enter the draft until a year after graduating from high school. Most players choose to play on the collegiate level for one year before turning pro, as a record nine first-round draftees did this season.

Since education clearly isn’t a priority for these types of players (one year does not a degree make), Jennings is making the jump to Europe, where the prospect of playing against seasoned professionals and collecting a solid paycheck (six figures, easily, and most assuredly a shoe deal) outweighs that of one year as an amateur on campus.

The underlying issue for Jennings, however, is that his SAT scores did not qualify for eligibility under NCAA guidelines, and instead of waiting for the results of his last re-take attempt, he’s hopping overseas.

There are big questions about whether the relative lack of exposure will harm his draft status in a year, but the decision has been made, and definitely carries some advantages. About 10 of them, we’d guesstimate...

10. Top-flight competition

Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Andrei Kirilenko, Peja Stojakovic… all got their start in Euro-leagues, and all are All-Star-caliber NBA players.

9. Ugly competition

Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Andrei Kirilenko, Peja Stojakovic… None of these guys are going to be named “Sexiest Man Alive” anytime soon (except maybe Peja, but American Grizzly Monthly doesn’t count), so your groupie haul is safe and secure.

8. Sweet jerseys

Jerseys like these beauties make me wish the D-Backs would don the Suns purple and orange someday soon.

7. Hooligans

It’d be nice to know that you have blood-thirsty, die-hards supporting you wherever you go. Can you imagine what the brawl at Auburn Hills would’ve looked like if Detroit Pistons fans were replaced by a mob of Euro hooligans? Ron Artest would’ve been strung up, stuffed with flairs and quartered, I reckon.

6. It’s all about the euros, baby

The value of the US dollar is plunging. Go get some euros, BJ! They’re colorful!

5. Class sucks

I can’t even fathom having to sit through Macro-economics 101 knowing that my credit will most assuredly not lead to a degree of any sort. (Although Jennings would probably have enrolled in Phys Ed 100, History of Bubblegum and the like, realistically).

4. U of A is in bad, bad shape.

Aside from the fun notion of a microphone playing alongside a Q-tip, jetting for the beauty and history of Europe is probably a lot more pleasant than playing for a squad that will probably finish in the bottom-half of the Pac-10 Conference.

3. He won’t have to play ASU

Ask Jerryd Bayless about that one.

2. Flat-top friendly

Think that stinky Tucson air is going to treat your ’do very well, BJ? Think again. Keep in mind that this kid flew in a hairdresser to the McDonald’s All-American game to keep his flat-top just right. Europe is, arguably, the best hair-dressing continent on earth, I’d guess. Two words, Brandon: Vidal Sassoon.

1. Europe > Tucson

Location, location, location! Rome or Tucson? Paris or Tucson? Hell, Warsaw or Tucson? I think even a French steam-sauna might beat out Tucson, to be honest.

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