It’s about to get real for all those involved in overseas basketball.
For years, getting an agent meant the end of your NCAA eligibility. In other words, if you wanted to try your luck in making it to the NBA and got an agent to help you? You’d better hope that you get drafted cos you can pretty much kiss that $250,000 scholarship goodbye.
You’d probably end up having to play pro ball overseas somewhere,if you were even good enough for that, that is (of course – if someone’s hoping to get drafted, chances that you can play somewhere on this 195 country planet are high).
But, that doesn’t take away from what you were robbed off – the option of getting the education that was promised to you.
What’s crazy is that the NCAA make a ton of money at the expense of the players, but that’s all a conversation for another day.
Things have since changed.
I’ve chosen to quickly bring you up to speed with what has been going on by including 5 tweets below.
I’ll chime in again after to let you know how the situation will likely affect the overseas basketball market
NCAA basketball says it will now allow “elite” high school and college prospects to be represented by an agent. NCAA will also permit players to return to school if unselected in NBA draft.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 8, 2018
NCAA says an “elite” prospect, as identified by USA Basketball, can hire agent beginning July 1 before their senior year in high school — if/when the NBA and NCAA allow high schoolers to enter draft. College players are eligible after each season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 8, 2018
Players are eligible to hire agent after “any basketball season” as long as they request an evaluation from the NBA undergraduate advisory committee. https://t.co/6sKqZ4Mj34
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 8, 2018
If Uniform Athlete Agents Act and state laws change, NCAA says agents can now pay for meals/transportation for players/families if expenses related the agent selection process — with meals/lodging/etc. paid by an agent if meeting associated with the agent or pro organization.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 8, 2018
These new NCAA rules come on the heels of the FBI busts for several “rules” — now changed — and top high school prospect Darius Bazley decommitting from Syracuse to turn pro.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 8, 2018
Players (who are in NCAA colleges)
You can expect players to now be the wiser (or at least have the power) to make the ‘best’ decision for them and their families. Now, if this was me, I’d be signing with a new agent each summer* fishing for the best look I can get!
Let’s face it, not all of these boys want to get a degree – they want the cheddar that comes with the pro territory.
So if you asked me, NCAA, it’s well overdue that you set these boys free – word to Lavarr and the G-League. Quit with this education facade, you know these boys are one and done!
*Of course you know that between the coaches that’ll monitor those who ‘try such luck’ each off-season – which will likely impact their role and mins in the next season – AND the NCAA saying you have to be ‘elite’ to even be eligible to access this luxury. I can still see this not going as smoothly as expected.
Players (who are already overseas) – More competition
As if there aren’t too many players in need of a look already right?
The below relates more to those who are looking for a contract overseas than those who have already secured a contract.
Although I don’t see this happening for a while (teams don’t trust HS talent the way that everyone may think) – more years down the line, it is very possible that HS elite players will be taking another man’s gravy and getting favoured in the contract race.
Should this happen. Those who do go to college, could see a shift further down the food chain for signings – subject to where you played and how you played.
*gulp*
Agents
This can go either one of two ways – or both
Some sleazy agents can be expected to emerge as this may be their ‘lucky day’, you’ve probably already seen ‘Amateur’ on Netflix. But let’s be real, there may well be worse guys out there in real life.
I’m Nigerian and I kinda think that the ‘I’m an agent story’ the sports 2018 version of the ‘I’m a Nigerian Prince’ thing.
Am I wrong here? Let me know?
Anyway, there’ll be more money for agents to make. I assume that the first countries to jump on this signing HS superstars wave, will be markets outside of Europe – Think Terrance Ferguson (Australia), Emmanuel Mudiay (China).
These are the markets which typically care less about experience in that way (not that they don’t care, oh they do). But we will have to wait a while before a High School star signs in the Euroleague…
On the other hand – perhaps this is the beginning of a new era – where players can truly be valued in the market as legitimate contributors and be incorporated into the pro market.
At the end of the day, every European NBA prospect is/was a high school player somewhere right? But the thing to remember is that each non-domestic player takes up an American spot.
I’m just in two minds about whether signing some ‘boy wonder’ ( what Shaq called Kobe , in the bad way) – to effectively match up a player with a wealth of experience (and maybe titles!).
NCAA
Basketball is a business.
You will hear me say this in nearly every post on this blog.
But the truth is, if you’re expecting the NCAA to allow their top schools to just willy nilly have players commit and decommit as they please and literally just pull the reins on their control –
You better guess again mate!
NCAA can very easily get ‘em on this one.
‘Players they consider to be elite’
Let’s not even look at college right now. Let’s go where this fiasco begins. High School.
This raises a red flag with me immediately because whilst many will rejoice. Some have not yet asked themselves the relevant question
‘How will I know if I am elite or not?’
Well let’s start by how players are ranked?
There are a few sites that are taken seriously when it comes to player ranking. I believe ESPN ranking and Rivals.com are two of them.
How easy would it be for the NCAA to simply give the old:-
‘Hey let’s say 99 ranking is by definition elite’ to them and then tell them who and who not to make elite.
Maybe I am exposing my age here, but Kevin Love is the last player I saw with a 99 ranking in HS. Might be the only. Not checking. If you know more, please prove me wrong (in the comments!)
Maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps I’m overreacting. Everything might just go great for everyone. But experience tells me otherwise.
Time will tell.
I’m tired (my posts aren’t usually this long). But if you want to read more of my posts – the best way would be to follow me on twitter! Click below.
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You don’t want to be that guy who is assumed to not have a profile and therefore not have his game tape looked at…
— The Baller’s Voice (@TheBallersVoice) August 7, 2018
My posts are usually for ballers who want to make the most of their overseas basketball careers.
#TheBallersVoice
