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Topic: Targeting high school stars is a much bigger threat to college basketball than the G
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catmandoo
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Member # 1284
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posted 08-16-2021 12:47 PM
The moment name, image and likeness rights became a reality for college basketball players, the G League Ignite's pursuit of high school graduates became much more difficult. As five-star prospect Jalen Duren recently explained, he -- unlike Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga before him -- didn't have to choose between making real money in the G League or enrolling in college for little more (at least legally) than a scholarship and cost of attendance stipend. Whatever the G League was offering -- and it was reportedly a one-year contract worth $1 million -- Duren knew he could make that same amount or more in college.
And he will. At Memphis.
Which suggests that name, image and likeness rights really are going to be responsible for luring some high school graduates to college basketball who might've otherwise skipped college basketball, and that's a great thing for college basketball. But what happens when another professional option emerges and starts targeting prep prospects for whom enrolling in college isn't yet an option? Because that's what Overtime Elite is doing, and I completely understand why young prospects, and their parents, are receptive.
For those unfamiliar, Overtime Elite describes itself as a "transformative new sports league that offers the world's most talented young basketball players a better pathway to becoming professional athletes." It's based in Atlanta and will feature up to 30 high school juniors and seniors each year -- and each player will be guaranteed a minimum salary of $100,000, be free to earn revenue from their name, image and likeness rights, get full healthcare coverage and disability insurance and complete what's been labeled a "rigorous" and "highly personalized" academic program.
The wealthiest human in the world (Jeff Bezos), one of the biggest hip-hop stars in the world (Drake), and perhaps the greatest basketball player in the world (Kevin Durant) are among the financial backers. So this is a very real thing with serious money behind it -- and, just last week, they ensured two more of the top prospects in the Class of 2022 will never play college basketball. On Wednesday, Overtime Elite signed five-star prospect Jazian Gortman to a one-year contract reportedly worth $650,000. Then, on Friday, Overtime Elite signed four-star prospect Bryce Griggs to a two-year contract reportedly worth $1.2 million.
Link
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http://www.ukfightsong.com/
Posts: 186359 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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PaulCat
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Member # 513
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posted 08-19-2021 07:50 AM
I didn't read the linked story - I just read what CMD included - but I wonder exactly how Overtime Elite is going to make money. Are they just giving these contracts out of charity? Are they going to get a TV contract? These are big contracts they're giving out. I understand these financial backers won't miss the money at all, but you have to think they're in it for business purposes. I'm glad they're doing it as well. As long as one-and-done is a viable thing, let these sports programs sign all the top kids. One-and-done has really made me lose a lot of interest in college basketball.
Posts: 10345 | From: Erlanger, Ky. USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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