STrib: Suggs, Dainja and Class of 2020 stars could be first in years to consider NBA

STrib: Jalen Suggs, Dain Dainja and Class of 2020 stars could be first in years to consider NBA leap

Taking a break from a workout on a recent afternoon in St. Paul, Jalen Suggs and Dain Dainja had a hard time keeping straight faces. One would compliment the other, then vice versa, and then again. In this first season together as AAU teammates, the young metro-area basketball stars were having fun talking about causing trouble for opposing Under Armour Circuit teams.

Like most high-level prospects after their sophomore year in high school, they are getting their first true taste of big-time recruiting. The scholarship offers are flowing in and their phones are buzzing with calls and texts from college coaches.

Suggs, Dainja and their fellow Class of 2020 standouts, having observed this relentless process in years past, are more ready for this craziness than you might expect. One thing they aren’t prepared for, however, is a potential looming decision: take one of these scholarships, or go straight to the NBA? This 2020 class, if the push for rule change succeeds, likely will contain the first top prospects to ponder that question in over a decade.

Rewriting the NBA’s age-limit rule that essentially requires players to play one season of college basketball was among the top recommendations in April from the Commission on College Basketball, headed by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The proposal to end the “one-and-done” era was a conversation starter on many levels, and some high school sophomores already are talking about a possible decision to declare for the NBA draft after graduation.

“I’ve most definitely thought about it a lot,” said Suggs, the 6-5 Minnehaha Academy point guard and five-star prospect. “I’ve talked to my dad about it. We’ve had a couple conversations. The biggest thing for me is not being complacent. Staying in the gym and continuing to work on my craft. And whichever opportunity presents itself, just take the best one that’s on the table.”

http://www.startribune.com/jalen-su...ould-be-first-to-consider-nba-leap/483978391/

Go Gophers!!

It’s pretty easy isn’t it? If you are a first round NBA pick you head to the NBA. They were also talking about rules to allow you to be college eligible if you didn’t get drafted.
Like Suggs said, get better, get good grades, prepare yourself and the options kind of take care of themselves.
Seems like Suggs will be a 1st round NBA pick.

the issue is not with the can't miss HS kids. One of the reasons why the NBA made it tougher for HS kids to jump right to the pros was because you had kids who weren't ready trying to make the jump and failing.

I don't have the time right now to do the research, but I'd be willing to bet there have been more duds than studs if you looked at all the HS kids who tried to go right into the NBA. Ndudi Ebi, anyone?

The big question is not whether HS kids will choose the NBA over college. the question is whether a HS kid will choose to go into the G-League instead of college. that will shake up the landscape if kids start seeing the G-League as a viable alternative to being a 1-and-one college player.