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Message: [QUOTE="memcorsu, post: 1244207, member: 452"] [COLOR=#663300]I saw this in the headlines today and thought this would be the board to post it as it is about the AAU and recruiting circuit:[/COLOR] [url]http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/12114523/kobe-bryant-says-european-players-more-skilled-americans-blames-aau[/url] [COLOR=#000066]Interesting comments coming from Kobe; one of the straight from hs crowd. I must admit, outside of watching teams like the Spurs or Grizz, and maybe Thunder to an extent as they play the passing team game, I am not very interested in NBA. The season is way to long and basketball is pretty bland imho (seems like they play with very little heart, then again I feel the same about the NFL and feel there is more passion at the college level). Many of the games I have watched seem like the "fundraiser" games that AAU kids play in where there is no defense and they just let the offense make a move. Basketball is much different than when I enjoyed it in the 90's.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#663300]I find it very interesting the amount of player being taken from overseas. Last year 33% of players taken were intl. predraft boards suggested 13 and there were 20 taken ( I could have missed counted as I have only had half a cup of coffee). With the success of teams like the Spurs, I would suggest that this trend will continue to increase.[/COLOR] [url]http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft[/url] [url]http://www.nba.com/draft/2014/draftBoard.html[/url] In 2013: 11 mock 20 taken 2012: 6 mock 16 taken 2011: 9 mock 16 taken [COLOR=#000066]Now, I did not exclude players from places in Africa where there is less of a developmental structure set up as there is in Europe. I am also curious of the "Kenpaytucky" effect WWW effect and would be curios of Kobe's thoughts on it. At some point, is there a point when the product becomes so diluted that NBA teams will not be willing to take so many one and doners? Will the rule ever be changed so that it is a straight to or play 3?[/COLOR] [url]http://www.nbadraft.net/2015mock_draft[/url] [COLOR=#663300]As of right now, in this mock draft ( I am sure people will argue for one over they other and I could care less what is used as most have the same players just in different positions), 37% of players in the first round are freshmen. These would be the "cream of the crop" AAU kids that Kobe is talking about. These are the "potential picks" that are like trying to catch lightening in a bottle. They are the amazing athletes who, as Kobe suggests, many don't know the team aspect of the game which seems to be becoming more of a focus or at least part of the franchise discussion. [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000066]I am also curios, as looking at the mock drafts and final draft numbers, how many kids are told by agents that they are a shoe in and don't make it because they agent or scout is unaware of what kind of talent might be coming from overseas. I also am curious about how much emphasis franchises are going to put on developing programs/scouting resources overseas. [/COLOR] [COLOR=#663300]I do think by head and shoulders that our athletes are the best in the world, I also agree with Kobe that our athletes are poorly developed at a young age and with the one and done or straight from HS approach, they will not get the development that will allow an good to great athlete stick in the league yet will be bounced after the first contract.[/COLOR][COLOR=#b35900] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000066]I am not saying that this is how it is, yet just seems that this is being talked about in the NBA. I am sure there are areas that I might be incorrect, am just was looking for y'alls thoughts as this is the board that has to do with recruiting and many of you have such great knowledge and feedback. [/COLOR] [/QUOTE]

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