First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

[JVal3208]

Latavious Williams, a player who originally planned on playing overseas after not qualifying for Memphis, was drafted with the 16th pick of last nights D-League draft. As you probably know, Brandon Jennings played last year overseas, and HS Junior Jeremy Tyler skipped his senior year to play overseas. Do you guys think we will see more of a trend of top prospects going overseas/D-League instead of attending college?

[DC]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

The name on this list most likely to garner national interest is that of Latavious Williams. To refresh your memory, Williams was the highly regarded power forward prep school recruit who committed to the University of Memphis, but decided to renege on the decision based on the expert advice of those around him.

“"It was a difficult decision," Williams said in a press release. "But after consulting with a number of people, and taking my family situation into consideration, playing overseas is the best move for me."

"It will not be an easy transition, but I have surrounded myself with a core of very competent people who I trust and who have my best interests at heart, so I am confident that things will work out very well."

Williams’ “mentor/advisor” Trey Godfrey, who he knows thanks to his AAU ties, told Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports back in July that the decision was purely a financial one.

"He made the decision when taking into account his family situation," said Godfrey. "He wants to put himself in a situation where he can help out and he saw this as a good opportunity."

Goodman also quoted Godfrey discussing his belief that Williams will be able to garner a contract in the “six-figure range”, and was mentioned having “a lot of interest from Europe and the Far East.”

Fast-forward three months, and Williams finds himself in the D-League draft pool, holding onto a B-level non-guaranteed contract for $19,000. Surely this isn’t the way he expected things to turn out?

The cold harsh reality is that European basketball teams are not all that interested in players of Williams’ caliber: a raw, unproven athlete without a defined position and plenty of off-court red flags. Being steered through the process with a rookie agent like Godfrey surely didn’t help.

The good news is that this is anything but the end of the road for Williams, even though he has no choice but to become automatically-eligible for the draft this upcoming June. He will be scouted extensively by all 30 NBA teams this season, and should receive plenty of opportunities to play and improve all year long. The level of competition he’ll be facing on a game by game basis going up against seasoned pros is surely higher than what he would have seen at the college level. Playing in the D-League could be a humbling experience for him as well, and could force him to mature rapidly.

This will surely be one of the most interesting story lines to follow in the 2009-2010 D-League season.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Latavious-Williams-5681/

[JVal3208]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

Thanks, DC, I couldn't post a link on my phone.

[J.R. Locke]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

I love it! On our way to a true minor league system.

[DustinT]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

Damn. I was hoping to see him play college ball.

F*** Brandon Jennings.

[jnofx]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

I think what Jennings did was brilliant, and the way he's playing now proves it. Why make a mockery of an educational institution when you want to be a PROFESSIONAL basketball player? Jennings was good enough to go pro, and did so. Now he's a year ahead of the rest of his rookie class in terms of being a Pro Athlete.

[jnofx]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

F*** Brandon Jennings.

Don't hate the player, hate the game. Or the Stern. Same difference.

[Jonesy]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

I love it! On our way to a true minor league system.

Exactly. It works well in baseball and could/should work well for hoops. Going to college should still be the most desirable option but if they can go to the dleague, earn a decent living (they need to pay them more than 19k per season that is pretty lame), hopefully get good coaching and still get noticed and end up in the nba that would be a good 2nd option imo.

[Brankles]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

More and more kids need to do this. They will get elite level training, play better competition than they would in college, and adapt to the NBA lifestyle without all the distractions of a college star or a rookie lottery pick.

Why play college basketball when you have this option? If you're going to dedicate your career to playing the game, might as well jump in with two feet and start as soon as you can.

[Jonesy]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

Some people will say that going to college gives you something to fall back on but lets face it. If they are a blue chip college star bball recruit destined for the nba just how much studying is actually going on.

[Rocky]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

I hope it all works out well for the kid....

but damn. I know more college basketball players that make more than $19,000.

[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

good for him

[Jonesy]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

I hope it all works out well for the kid....

but damn. I know more college basketball players that make more than $19,000.

I wonder if he also gets free housing, free car hire etc as well? 19k is nothing and he could probably earn more at Walmart but at least he gets to eat, sleep and breathe basketball so it should only help his development.

[J.R. Locke]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

but damn. I know more college basketball players that make more than $19,000.

Tuition at any private school is likely more than that. Kids won't be in the D-League for the money.

[Brankles]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

Getting a scholarship isn't "making money." Getting a scholarship for these NBA prospects is getting food and board while the NCAA pimps you out for 20 times what your scholarship is worth. Getting an "education" consists of listening to your tutors and only attending class on the day of exams, unless you have a fill-in test taker.

Generally the scholarship system is made for the guys who know they're not going to the next level and use sports as a stepping stone for real life. It is not made for your Dajuan Wagners, Derrick Roses, Greg Odens, Kevin Durants, Tyreke Evanses, etc. who knew from the time they were 14 years old they were going to the NBA.

The NBA needs to embrace a minor league system the way MLB does. No one complains about those baseball kids missing out on educations.

I would love to see an elite league of about 8-10 teams of 17-20 year old kids playing in an NBDL environment, getting properly trained, focusing only on basketball and making money at the same time. That way we can circumvent the slave system that is college basketball as well as develop future NBA stars the right way. It would benefit both the kids and the NBA, and college teams can focus on recruiting three to four year players and not have to worry about rebuilding every year.