Jennings the first of what could be many

AKRON, Ohio -- One done, how many more to go?

That's the real question surrounding Brandon Jennings' announcement that he will spend the next year in Europe as a professional while waiting for the 2009 NBA Draft. Forget what it means to Arizona or Lute Olson. What it means to college basketball in general is what has the industry buzzing, because coaches will now have to approach the recruitment of elite prospects like they used to approach the recruitment of elite prospects, which is to say with great caution and the understanding that there's a decent chance they'll never enroll.

"By his sophomore year, nobody was recruiting LeBron anymore because everybody knew he wasn't going to college," were some of the words Akron coach Keith Dambrot shared Tuesday night at the LeBron James Skills Academy while we chatted about the superstar he once coached in high school. By the end of the night, I couldn't help but think this is the way coaches will again be approaching situations because they won't want to waste time on a prospect chasing the dollar.

And by dollar, I mean euro.

In that way, Jennings is very much going to be the trendsetter Sonny Vaccaro wanted, and anybody actively recruiting Class of 2009 stars Renardo Sidney and Lance Stephenson had better reevaluate things, ASAP. Because on Tuesday night Jennings officially opened the door the NCAA and NBA hoped would never open, and now there's no telling how many prospects are going to try to follow his lead.

Lil Lute Reputation: 89 Level: All-Star Since: Oct 19, 2006	Posted on: July 9, 2008 2:18 am Score: 70 Jennings the first of what could be many As a UA fan and alum, I knew it was too good to be true for an inner-city bball whiz to make it to Tucson, especially with all the bs that went on this past year. Gary, do you think Nic Wise has what it takes to be a premier PG for the Wildcats? I hear he as been rippin it up in the international games this summer. Do you think UA can crack the top 25 this year? [ Reply to Comment ]
AZWldctFan Reputation: 89 Level: All-Star Since: Aug 18, 2006	Posted on: July 9, 2008 2:48 am Score: 85 Jennings the first of what could be many Loading your body up with tattoos and flunking the SAT is not "trendsetting". My sister in law did that 4 years ago. [ Reply to Comment ]
Spavin Reputation: 44 Level: Rookie Since: Jun 27, 2008	Posted on: July 9, 2008 3:13 am Score: 45 Jennings the first of what could be many Maybe Mr. Jennings can take a side trip to Israel and say hello to another former Wildcat recruit that backed out and opted to go pro - Mr. Ndudi Ebi. How did that work out for you? [ Reply to Comment ]
wydwakr420 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Jul 3, 2008	Posted on: July 9, 2008 3:22 am Score: 33 Hopefully More Will Follow Look, Brandon Jennings never had an interest in college. When he signed with UA, he and his family said he'd only be there one year. So he's decide to forgo his 4 basket weaving fall classes and unattended second semester to make cash, so be it. While it's been fun watching guys like Durant and Beasley, it's an absolute waste for them to be in college. Imagine if Oden hadn't played his freshmen year? Would he be having the hand and knee problems? I know the NBA had an image problem with these immature 18-year-old punks getting millions of dollars and a few of them throwing it away and never developing, which is why this dumb rule has been implemented. The bummer is it's killed the college game. Remember watching the NCAA tournament in 05 and 06 and seeing so many better games and upsets because of parody? Now all we get is chalk thanks to these premiere schools loading up. The George Mason's and Tennessee Chattanooga's and Stephen Curry's make the NCAA tournament. Not all 4 #1 seeds in the Final Four. Hopefully more will follow Jennings' trend and the NBA will implement baseball's draft policy. You're eligible to be drafted out of HS, if you elect not to sign you must go to school for 2 years (baseball's 3) or if you play internationally, 4 years. That will bring more excitement and parody back to the college game and eliminate the issues that have been created. [ Reply to Comment ]
aggie16 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 3, 2006	Posted on: July 9, 2008 7:56 am Score: 89 Jennings the first of what could be many Well said. This is exactly why I don't watch NBA basketball anymore. These are the overwhelming type of human beings they are impowering. Someone with no sense of committment or integrity or need for an education. He just wants to play basketball and that's it. To use the word "Trendsetter" is nauseating but it is appropriate. The thugs and poor excuse for human beings have now found a way to get out of even one year of a college education. Here is to hoping that he never makes it to the NBA and that he stays over in Europe forever. [ Reply to Comment ]
TheCzar Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 27, 2007	Posted on: July 9, 2008 8:55 am Score: 80 Jennings the first of what could be many I'm a Wildcat fan but frankly will lose no sleep over this. Here's a kid with apparent talent to pursue a professional basketball career. As far as I can tell no interest in school. This option is very logical. To force him to use college as his basketball minor league makes no sense now, nor has it ever. College basketball should not be rammed down the throat of those for whom the "college" part is a joke. I believe the vast majority of those playing college ball are there because they want both the college and basketball experience. Offering an alternative for those who don't will not ruin or even significantly impair college basketball. While it may dip the talent level ever so slightly, it will not diminish at all what makes the college game so compelling. Still plenty of talent to go around that wants to be in college, the rivalries and color go on, the greatest tournament in the world skips not a beat . . . My only hesitation here relates to those who will make poor decisions to skip college and hurt themselves. But then again, those same guys would have made poor decisions not to take advantage of the education opportunity anyway so, I guess this new option really isn't even a step backward from that standpoint. Hope it works out for Jennings, and more important, hope that when his four years at the UofA are done, Nic Wise will be appreciated as one of the great backcourt leaders in Cat history. [ Reply to Comment ]
bruins88hara Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: Sep 14, 2006	Posted on: July 9, 2008 9:41 am Score: 85 Jennings the first of what could be many "The thugs and poor excuse for human beings" I hate it when people throw around terms like these thugs and poor excuses for human beings. It sounds like pure racism to me. I don't really think you know Brandon Jennings, and he might be a thug, but just because he's black and can't pass the white man's test to get into the white man's world of college doesn't mean he's a thug or a poor excuse for a human being. As for Jennings 'only wanting to play basketball and that's it,' what more could you ask for in a basketball player? My dad didn't get a typical college education because all he wanted to do was play the clarinet... Is there something wrong with pursuing a career, especially a lucrative living like Jennings is certain to make in Europe, or the NBA down the road? Sounds like somebody is jealous. [ Reply to Comment ]
bruinfan1020 Reputation: 40 Level: Rookie Since: Jul 9, 2008	Posted on: July 9, 2008 9:47 am Score: 45 Jennings the first of what could be many In reality who cares. The kid is not to blame in this scenario it is the system. The one year college rule is ridiculous. In a way I hope this happens more often so they get rid of that idiotic 1 year rule. [ Reply to Comment ]
Catphish41 Reputation: 55 Level: Pro Since: Apr 14, 2007	Posted on: July 9, 2008 10:40 am Score: 72 Jennings the first of what could be many Great comment.....I thought the exact same thing as I read that guy. [ Reply to Comment ]
Sunnysidez86 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Dec 31, 2007	Posted on: July 9, 2008 10:46 am Score: 92 Jennings the first of what could be many I think this is awesome. I would rather go to Europe for a year, get paid and learn a TON of things about the world and then comeback here to play in the NBA. This would be better than living in a dorm room where I have to share a bathroom with 30 kids. The college game has been wrecked for years and has been in dire need of being reinvented. Hopefully this is the catalyst. [ Reply to Comment ]

Gary Parrish

Parrish: The Thoughts