Jarrett-Carter.com

High school basketball prep star Brandon Jennings is going pro. In another league. On another continent.

You could have seen this coming a mile away, several years away. A high school player who had surrounded himself with the wrong people, would be guided into thumbing his nose at the NBA’s age limit and testing the waters in overseas play. A player, who by all accounts would have plenty of face time and scrutiny playing for a powerhouse college hoops team, will now have the same opportunities outside of his native land.

And get paid doing it.

I hope it is a plan well observed by other secondary basketball prodigies. The naysayers lament that these privileged young athletes are throwing themselves to the proverbial wolves of agents and stardom, all outside of the comforts of home. They believe that they won’t be able to handle the culture of a foreign land, and adjust to a high level of play.

That would be true, except no one laments the same roadblocks for military personnel or Peace Corp volunteers who embark upon their professional journeys right off the high school graduation stage. No, they are not privy to the trappings and fame of professional athletes, but they also aren’t afforded translators, guides or other resources to make their lives easier.

Besides, it may be argued that Jennings stands a far greater chance at improving his draft stock against elite professional competition. Proving his game against players a step above collegiate level talent can only position him for high draft stock.

And if shoe companies are slick, they will ride the international money trail right back across the Atlantic Ocean when Jennings elects to enter the NBA Draft. He will bring with him an international following, one that was established with his presence, and not a multi-million dollar marketing campaign.

There’s not much bad that can come out of Brandon Jennings forgoing college for professional opportunity. If he were a college graduate making this same move in another industry, we would laud him as a savvy businessman and one to watch out for.  We can’t look at him as a fool, an opportunist, or misguided.

In basketball and in life, Brandon Jennings is one to watch out for.