I was at the game and ceremony and Bazz's tearful reaction makes me wonder...

[BigErnMcCracken]

Here's what Shabazz should probably do...
He'll be a Senior next season, so that means even if he declares for the NBA Draft & does not sign with an agent, he can still return to UConn for his Senior season if he doesn't like his draft position. This would be a wise thing to do, even if he intends to return.

You can't declare and then come back anymore, you're either in or out. The NCAA's purported drop dead date is 4/10, but the NBA doesn't recognize that date so I believe you have to affirmatively decide by the NBA's deadline of 4/29, then you're either in or out. No going back.

 

[Dove]

I feel he is coming back. I am sure KO pumped so much "You're my boy, Bazz" preachin' in his ear that Bazz will see things through a senior season, graduate and then go to Pro.

Is JC going to be like the Pope where all Huskies go to when it's decision time?

 

[SubbaBub]

Take the fan cap off for a moment.

Why is it a bad decision? I think he will get drafted, though maybe not in the first round. Even if he's a second round pick, he'll make half a million next year. Or he could play for UConn for free tuition.

That's lots of reasons to stay and lots of reasons to go. I'm not sure either is a bad decision at all.

Second round contracts aren't guaranteed. They are basically an invitation to training camp.

No.underclassman should declare unless they are guaranteed to go in the first round. Six foot point guards, doubly so.


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[7774]

I love Shabazz. He might be my all-time favorite Husky. I don't think he can improve his game that much, and I'm not inclined to believe that professional scouts give a damn whether or not there's media buzz around a player; just about every year, some no-name European prospect is taken in the top 5. So, if Shabazz has a shot at a 1st round pick this year, I would say he should go for it. If he gets taken, great; if not, he'll land with a professional team overseas.

I can't sit here and say I won't be a little disappointed if Shabazz says he's going into the draft; I root for the laundry, and obviously feel our chances of a title next year would go out the window with him leaving. But I'll be rooting like hell for Shabazz to kick ass in his workouts, get drafted in the 1st, and continue to represent the UConn brand the right way. And, if he decides to come back, I'll cherish rooting for him in every one of the 40 or so games we play next year.

NCAA tournament buzz is definitely a real thing, mainly because scouts like to see how you perform when the lights are brightest. There was no way Ben was going 3rd in the draft before his Big East and NCAA tournaments that year.

 

[Tenspro2002]

When was the last time one kid's decision ment so much to a program?
With conference realignment, starting a new conference, and the 2nd year of a new coach!

I firmly believe that next year is a tipping point towards determining whether we're going to be relevant in college basketball in the next 10-15 years.

If Bazz comes back, we're easily a top 25 team, maybe top 10, with a legitimate shot at making a deep run. Being in the national spotlight makes us more attractive to recruits and makes us more likely to get some top talent over the next few years. Recruiting is a snowball effect -- just look at Kentucky. All of the top players go there because, well, all of the previous top players have gone there! If you go to Kentucky it helps solidify the perception of you as a top player. Obviously we won't achieve quite that level, but it will be better than what we've pulled in.

If Bazz doesn't come back, we struggle to stay on the right side of the bubble and won't make a lot of noise. Recruiting likely stays challenging and we might not get back to the level we've been accustomed to for quite some time.

Of course I don't have a crystal ball so I have no idea to what degree this is true. That's just my view of the situation.

 

[Waquoit]

If you are not 1st round pick and you can be a 1st round pick by coming back, yes, it's a bad decision. Being a 2nd round pick is not good. It's better to go undrafted in many cases.

Yes, but if Bazz can get intel that says he gets picked in the 1st round this year, he goes. He's probably a 1st round pick.

 

[aceboon]

Yes, but if Bazz can get intel that says he gets picked in the 1st round this year, he goes. He's probably a 1st round pick.

Except he won't get that intel and he's not even guaranteed to get drafted, let alone 1st round, and I'm saying this as the biggest Bazz stan around.

 

[selles]

Yes, but if Bazz can get intel that says he gets picked in the 1st round this year, he goes. He's probably a 1st round
pick.

If he gets solid intel that he's a first rounder, he should go and may the road rise to meet him. Don't think it will happen though, the physical aspects aren't in his favor. As others have stated, his best bet is probably going to be coming back and having a good deep tourney run next year so that his leadership and clutchness are on full national display.

 

[BearJWS]

It doesn't work like that anymore. You can't test the waters and return. You know, just the NCAA caring about the kids again.

Yes, you can still declare & return, the deadline is just shorter. It's unfortunate that it's shorter. Think about it, any other college student can take a job or return to college up to the date they start a semester, even then if they take a job, they can still continue their studies. The NCAA should be like that too. The NCAA does these kids a disservice with this. What a Crock! Really. Going to college is all about bettering yourself for the future, if a kid wants to take his time to decide, then that's his decision, not the NCAA's. Don't get me started!

 

[aceboon]

Yes, you can still declare & return, the deadline is just shorter. It's unfortunate that it's shorter. Think about it, any other college student can take a job or return to college up to the date they start a semester, even then if they take a job, they can still continue their studies. The NCAA should be like that too. The NCAA does these kids a disservice with this. What a Crock! Really. Going to college is all about bettering yourself for the future, if a kid wants to take his time to decide, then that's his decision, not the NCAA's. Don't get me started!

there is no point in declaring and returning because with the new deadline there is no time to workout for teams, that is why you are either in or you're out. with KO's NBA contacts he will the due dilligence with front offices and guage where Bazz would be selected, if at all, and make an informed decision before the deadline.

 

[blackbird]

Take the fan cap off for a moment.

Why is it a bad decision? I think he will get drafted, though maybe not in the first round. Even if he's a second round pick, he'll make half a million next year. Or he could play for UConn for free tuition.

That's lots of reasons to stay and lots of reasons to go. I'm not sure either is a bad decision at all.

Because he likely won't go in the first round.

I'm not sure that he's an NBA player, period. But without a strong post season and injury concerns..that's going to lower his already "not the highest" stock.

Any reason why he's considering leaving? Does his family need money? Just asking, because it would really benefit him to come back. Improve some decision making, prove that he can stay Healthy, have a strong post season...that'll help him get drafted.

 

[UCDaveD]

From Borges January 20th blog:

A Western Conference scout on Bazz & Boat:

(on Napier)
“He’s got a little toughness about him, decent point guard skills. He likes to shoot, but that's not so bad anymore, because they play zones in the league now, they want their point guards to score a little bit. He's the kinda guy I wouldn’t count him out, but don’t think anybody’s gonna go crazy over him.”

"He's probably anywhere from mid-second round to not drafted. People are always looking for point guards. The odds are teams will wait to see if he slides through the draft. At that point, it's better for the players. A number of teams will want to bring him into summer leagues, so he's in a little more control of trhe process."


(on Boatright)

"For me, personally, he’s tough to like. He’s got the lethal traits of being (not smart with the ball) and selfish. When I first saw him I got excited, because he's got big-time quicknees. Maybe he’s reformed himself. A couple of times (he had a guy open and) he had to see the guy, but he's one of those moody little point guards who decide who they're going to pass to. I just hate that. You remember that as a player. You should make that play because it's the right play."

(on Boatright's small size)

"There are some small guys, and he does have big-time quickness. He’s not my cup of tea, but there may be somebody who thinks he’s got X-factor quickness ... and could be that catalyst type of guy. It's an 82-game schedule, things are going to happen to you, one way or another."

"I think it’s a mistake for both of them (to declare). The kid from Villanova (Maalik Wayns) lucked out. He probably thought he was gonna be drafted, he didn’t get drafted at all, and he's on end of bench with Philly (actually, Wayns' 10-day contract with the 76ers just expired, and he wasn't re-signed). I just don’t think you leave school, even for the second round. But I know the pressure these kids are under. They’re AAU guys, whoever they’re hanging around with, go home to, it’s like a red badge of courage that you’re going to be in the draft."

 

[UC990411]

Boat, in my opinion. has as much chance to play in the NBA as Olender does- Olender has height, Boat can dipsy do - thats it on both

Who's Olender and who says he can play in the league?

 

[ctchamps]

Who's Olender and who says he can play in the league?

Its Ahlahnder!

 

[Inyatkin]

I think your logic is right. But your facts with KEA are wrong. He was a freshman on the E8 1998 team, then was a sophomore on the title team. He came back after that year (he, perhaps, should have left, since I'm not sure he could have raised his stock, and probably had a chance for the first round).

His Junior year he was a bit hobbled by the end. They lost some silly games, but then made a run to the BET finals. The end of the season was frustrating, since KEA was injured in the Utah State game. That team had potential to get to the Final Four if he was healthy--the 1 and 2 seed were out of their bracket. If KEA was healthy and they got by Tennessee, they would have had 8-seed UNC, and then 7-seed Tulsa in the E8--and then 5-seed Florida. Just one of those really interesting counter-factuals for UConn... they probably lose to MSU for the title, but would you bet against a healthy KEA-Freeman-Voskhul team with one game for a repeat?

This is a good reminder that, to me, the 2000 season was hands down the most frustrating year I've had as a UConn fan. 2010 and last year are in the running, but that 2000 team had a lot of rough moments, and you just kept waiting for them to put it together, and they finally did at the end, and then Khalid gets hurt.

 

[Inyatkin]

Bazz was pretty emotional but from the looks of it they all were. Even DeAndre who's pretty unflappable on the court was breaking down. I don't think you can read anything into this.

 

[ChrisSmith]

Second round contracts aren't guaranteed. They are basically an invitation to training camp.

No.underclassman should declare unless they are guaranteed to go in the first round. Six foot point guards, doubly so.


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A blanket statement like that is certainly not true. The decision should be made just like any financial decison - project out the cashflows and discount them back to present values. So if the cash flows in years 2-45 are the same no matter what, then you want to maximize cash flow in year 1- meaning even if Shabazz makes 45k in turkey, it would be a good financial decision.

Obviously the difficulty is predicting the cash flows.

 

[ChrisSmith]

This type of thinking is just so bizarre. Do you really think a really good college player who can contend for a title next year should leave to play in Europe? You must also think that El-Amin made a mistake coming back for his junior year and winning a championship, he would have been far better off getting that extra year in Istanbul.

You've completely missed the point. It's not what you or I think, it's what the player thinks. I'm sure some guys think, screw the ncaa title, i wish i had 11 years of making 250k in turkey instead of 10. Other guys wouldn't trade their college experiences for 20 years of making 250k in turkey. People are different - what's right for some isn't right for others. I dont know if shabazz values that one extra year of earning money more than a potential tourney run.

 

[ChrisSmith]

See my previous post. I'd bet money "pro" to him is synonymous with NBA.

There is a small chance he makes the first round this year. Very small.

In 2010, if you asked pro scouts about Kemba, you did not hear good things. Borderline first rounder, probably in the second. And then Kemba out-Kemba'd everyone, and he was a lottery selection.

That's why you come back unless you know you're in the first round. Even with Khalid El-Amin, I sort of understood. He had, what, 3 kids?

This shows fundamentally flawed logic. For every kemba, there is an ishiah austin. Guess how much the average nba prospect improves his stock by, relative to other returning players? None! Its a zero sum game - for every winner, theres a loser. And shabazz is just as likely to be a loser as he is a winner (in terms of his draft stock changing by coming back another year).

 

[selles]

A blanket statement like that is certainly not true. The decision should be made just like any financial decison - project out the cashflows and discount them back to present values. So if the cash flows in years 2-45 are the same no matter what, then you want to maximize cash flow in year 1- meaning even if Shabazz makes 45k in turkey, it would be a good financial decision.

Obviously the difficulty is predicting the cash flows.

Good lord, who let a financial planner on the board.

 

[superjohn]

A blanket statement like that is certainly not true. The decision should be made just like any financial decison - project out the cashflows and discount them back to present values. So if the cash flows in years 2-45 are the same no matter what, then you want to maximize cash flow in year 1- meaning even if Shabazz makes 45k in turkey, it would be a good financial decision.

Obviously the difficulty is predicting the cash flows.

Wow thanks for clearing things up, you should definitely have a talk with Shabazz before he decides, I'm sure he would be grateful for your sound financial advice.

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

Good lord, who let a financial planner on the board.

Financial Planner? You learn that in finance 101 hahaha

 

[CAHUSKY]

A blanket statement like that is certainly not true. The decision should be made just like any financial decison - project out the cashflows and discount them back to present values. So if the cash flows in years 2-45 are the same no matter what, then you want to maximize cash flow in year 1- meaning even if Shabazz makes 45k in turkey, it would be a good financial decision.

Obviously the difficulty is predicting the cash flows.

Goo lord. Your odds of making the nba after playing in turkey are far less than after leading Uconn to the final four and elevating yourself to a first round pick and a guaranteed contract. Settling for 45k could cost you millions.

 

[huskiesnyc]

When was the last time one kid's decision ment so much to a program?
With conference realignment, starting a new conference, and the 2nd year of a new coach!

Kemba

 

[Perspective]

Goo lord.

Yes? Did someone summon me? I am the Goo Lord.
.
.
.
.

 

[willie99]

NeillOstrout
Ollie on Napier's NBA decision: "We're going to support him either way."
3/9/13 2:57 PM

this is a true and accurate statement

I think Bazz has to explore his options, gauge the interest and make an informed decision. If he's not going in the 1st round, he should come back

and of course he can improve his draft position. Have a great year next year, have a great post season when all eyes are upon you, show everyone he's truly a leader and his draft position will absolutely improve without a shadow of a doubt. Another year with KO can only help

that's what young kids do, they get better

 

[Phoenixhusky]

I just do not get the theory some have that Bazz will leave early to become a 2nd round pick or go undrafted and play internationally. Like Willie 99 said he can always improve his draft position, especially with a deep NCAA tourney run.

 

[Vuce]

Personally I think Bazz is coming back.

 

[Dooley]

I think Bazz is a lock to be a first round pick and, probably, at the tail end of the big money lottery picks to the end of the 1st round. That's the guaranteed cash and it would be tough to pass that up. UConn's stock is going to take hit in the public's perception because of our new conference so I'd say anything short of an Elite 8 appearance would be seen as disappointing if he would return. Plus there's injury risk. If I had to guess, I'd say he's going pro and I don't blame him (or anyone). But yes, selfishly, I'd LOVE to see him return to UConn and help restore our proud reputation as a top 5 program and national title contender. Next year's team could be REALLY special in a weaker conference and with something more to play for. I'd say an Elite 8 appearance is very likely and a good chance at Final 4. That is if the corrupt NCAA doesn't continue to stick it to UConn and seed them in the toughest brackets that would include another tough "away" game.

 

[Phoenixhusky]

I think they all are and we may potentially have three 1st round picks next year. I still deandre has the most pro potential as a lottery pick in 2014 and facey way down the road though.