JaKarr / N.Y. Daily News
- Thread starter jerseyshorejohnny
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Sounds like he will be back, next year might be his last though, which would be a shame because we really need some upperclassmen to help guide the 2015 class so it doesn't turn into the harkless season.
Where is he going this year? NBADraft.net who does this for a living for years now, doesn't even have him listed on the top 100 players for 2014, so I don't think he's got a choice to leave just yet. Next year will be key.
http://www.nbadraft.net/ranking/bigboard
stjohnschris
Active member
Even though he has NBA caliber talent, I wouldn't be surprised to see him here for all 4 years.
I believe I said in my post I think he'll be back
beast of the east
Active member
As far as I'm concerned, For Sampson to have that choice after his junior year, he'd have to have a monster year. If he does, we will have three big times players to stop.
I'm rooting for him to do just that.
I'm rooting for him to do just that.
beast of the east
Active member
Do you recall on here earlier in the season where more than one poster (really a rash of them) questioned whether Sampson was even a D1 player? I know you weren't in that group, but it was ridiculous how poorly he was playing.
There is an alternative. Whether it is a good one or not is another story. His name escapes me right now, but a Villanova guard did just that last year saying he needed to help his family out now and if he didn't make the NBA, there was overseas. That is how some of this kids are thinking due to their particular situations.
beast of the east
Active member
One thing that very few of us can relate to is the pressure on these kids to make it professionally in basketball and start helping themselves and their families out. They get a tiny taste of it in college ball, flying around the country (sometimes internationally a little, like our guys the past summer). They stay in nice hotels, get meal money, a stipend, and decent housing on campuses that are pretty safe. To some extent, their friends and family see them as having "made it" already, even though they have made any money by playing college. With a little bit of success, if anyone gets in their ear about turning pro, visions of Escalades, luxury condos, and all the trappings often override objective assessment. If they don't make it, and don't complete an education, after the great experience of playing ball somewhere overseas is over, what are they left with, career wise? I don't know if there is a remedy to it. The lucky ones, like a Shelton Jones, or despite his success overseas, Walter Berry, come back at some point and complete their degrees. To me treatment of our athletes goes far beyond wins and losses and professional basketball careers - it's making sure that they are positioned for career and life success and to give direction to those as goals.
There have been guys who haven't been projected first rounders, or even second rounders, but they still go. An example was even in this article with the mention of Omar Cook and in this thread someone mentioned Cheeks from Nova. That's more what I meant when I said it sounds like he is staying, what I meant is it sounds like he has the right mindset and isn't gonna bolt unless he knows he's going to get picked in the 1st round.