Bon Voyage Brandon!
Recently, guard Brandon Jennings announced his decision to play basketball overseas next season. Jennings originally gave a commitment to the University of Arizona but shifted gears.
Jennings is the first to go over and play in Europe instead of going to college. In this day and age of one-and-done, he would have been a Wildcat for one season under Lute Olson, then off to the NBA draft. Jennings did not get the grades to go to Arizona prior to making the decision to play in a foreign country.
My friends, it is not about the right decision or wrong decision ... simply put, this is his decision. If this is what he wants to do, who are we to say he shouldn't have the opportunity.
I agree with shoe guru Sonny Vaccaro, who said the youngsters should have a right to play basketball instead of going to the scholastic rights if that is their desire.
How can someone criticize a person for trying to go out and make a living? If a team is willing to pay him, that is fine.
It is not about whether or not he is good enough, or the judgments that will be passed. He is going to Europe, playing with people he is not familiar with. That will be a major adjustment for a young man. It will be tough physically and mentally and this is a difficult task.
If he wants to apply himself in the world of basketball, and one can figure his long-term goal is the NBA, who are we to deny him?
I wish Brandon Jennings all the luck in the world. I simply wish reality would set in and allow youngsters good enough to play right away, like Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley, and allow them to go to the NBA instead of going through a charade of one year of college. Do these kids really want to be there?
In hockey and baseball, they allow kids to go to the pros early on. Youngsters do take a chance, and I feel the NBA should use the same plan as baseball; once you step on a campus, you stay there for three years. That would bring some stability to college basketball and well as David Stern's league. There would be more maturity and discipline. It would help young people that are not ready.
It looks like Jennings will be a trailblazer, and I don't mean in Portland. He will set the stage for the future. If he is willing to play basketball for cash, and a team will lay the big bucks on him, why not? If he is going to get a shoe deal that helps his family's future, who are we to say it is wrong?
Let's sit back and respect his feelings. This is America, and one has the freedom to do what one desires as long as it isn't hurting anyone.
Ultimately it is about him helping or hurting himself. He feels he is helping himself and his family.
The University of Arizona will go on and be successful. The school is bigger than any individual.
Brandon, knock 'em dead. Penetrate, play solid basketball and eventually come back to the NBA. If that is your desire, go for it. As I say on my motivational DVDs, never say the word CAN'T!
