By GONZALO BEDIA DIAZ
Special to ZAGSBLOG
The economic crisis is all around the world and basketball is not exempt. If you check the European market you realize something has changed. The teams sign more NCAA rookies than years before because they are cheaper than experienced and outsanding ones. And the Old Continent it is not the paradise for American players any more because the salaries have decreased.
The numbers are plain: almost 300 players have signed in Europe to start pro careers coming from NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA schools. At the same date in 2012 there were just 189 players signed. There are more rookies for this season, but they are paid worse.
TOP AMERICANS STARTING PRO CAREER IN EUROPE:
-The best scorer last season in Division I in NCAA, former Virginia Tech combo guard ERICK GREEN (SG, 6-4, 1991, Virginia Tech Hookies), has signed with the outstanding club in Italy last season: Siena. They have lost main sponsor “Montepaschi” after winning the last 7 national titles in Lega. Now they are named Mens Sana Basket Siena and they have decreased their budget by 50% so they decided to sign a rookie like Green who led the Hookies averaging 25 points per game.
-There was a seven footer (actually a 6-11) who everybody loved last season, and everybody knew he’ll have a lot of problems to get an NBA contract. MIKE MUSCALA (C, 6-11, 1991) finished his college career making a great season in Bucknell. He was hired in Spain by Rio Natura Obradoiro, in the first division and a team who bet strongly on rookies because he won’t be the only one rookie there. Muscala will share the team with other outstanding NCAA players last season: DURAND SCOTT (SG, 6-5, 1990, Miami Canes) and NICK MINNERATH (PF, 6-9, 1989, Detroit Titans).
-There is anoother team in the Spanish first division who signed three rookies: UCAM Murcia. One of them is a very popular one, the outsanding Wolfpack shooter SCOTT WOOD (SF, 6-6, 1990, North Carolina State Wolfpack). They also signed the Nigerian center who was in the last Final Four in Atlanta playing for Wichita State, EHIMEN ORUKPE (C, 7-0, 1990, Wichita State Shockers) and DWAYNE DAVIS, the starting shooting guard of Southern Mississippi (SG, 6-5, 1989, Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles).
-Also in Spain, one of the last surprising signings has been JACKIE CARMICHAEL (PF, 6-9, 1990, Illinois State Redbirds). Bilbao Basket signed before former Maryland Jordan Williams but health troubles made them waive him.
-One of the most highlighted signings in Europe has been JACK COOLEY (PF, 6-9, 1991, Notre Dame Fighting Irish). He declined an NBA contract for lucrative offer in Turkey. He played very well on PIT and although he was undrafted, he received NBA offers but Trabzonspor knocked on Cooley’s door and he didn’t hesitate. The former Notre Dame power forward may be the best paid rookie in Europe.
PLAYING OVERSEAS IS NOT SO EASY
Not everything is a fairytale, even if you are one of the best college players. Sometimes the history ends as nobody expects:
-Former Baylor star PIERRE JACKSON (PG, 5-10, 1991, Baylor Bears) was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans in the last NBA Draft but decided to sign with Asvel Villeurbanne, an historic club in France. A few days ago he came back to the States without playing any games there because he didn’t adapt to the European life in one month there.
-Also in France, one other player who couldn’t get settled was the tough power-forward RICHARD HOWELL (PF, 6-8, 1990, North Carolina State Wolfpack). He was supposed to play in Gravelines Dunkerque. He was waived before starting the regular season, flew to the States, and signed with the Portland Trail Blazers at the end.
-The most famous undersized power forward in NCAA last year was TAYLOR SMITH (PF, 6-6, 1990, Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks). His team was one of the last ones to stay unbeaten during the regular season and he was the leader in field goal average of NCAA Division I. His 70% shooting took him to Spain signing with Fuenlabrada but he was cut after a month and before starting official games. But this bad new was just for a while because two days later he signed with the humble greek club of Kolossos Rhodes so his dream of starting pro career in Europe is still alive.
MORE NAMES
Those names are not the only ones trying to start a new life, trying to live as a professional. These are the prominent names: Ramon Galloway (La Salle Explorers) will play in Bosnia for Igokea; in Germany we can find Gregory Echenique (Creighton Bluejays) who will share team with C. J. Harris (Wake Forest Deamon Deacons) playing for Neckar Ludwigsburg; in Slovenia we find the former Spartan Derrick Nix (Michigan State Spartans) and the great left-handed point guard Malcolm Armstead (Wichita State Shockers) both in Krka Novo Mesto; France may have the most popular NCAA names and it’s a usual destination for them. We can find there Mark Lyons (Arizona Wildcats) in Chorale Roanne, Alex Oriakhi (Missouri Tigers) in Limoges or DeShaun Thomas (Ohio State Buckeyes) who will play with the present French league champion JSF Nanterre. In Holland we have Cashmere Wright (Cincinnati Bearcats) in Groningen; in Israel more prominent names: Sherwood Brown (FGCU Eagles) in Maccabi Haifa, Christian Watford (Indiana Hoosiers) in Hapoel Eliat, Laurence Bowers (Missouri Tigers) in Hapoel Holon, Kenny Boynton (Florida Gators) in Netanya, or Vincent Council (Providence Friars) in Hapoel Tel Aviv. In Italy we find Trevor Mbakwe (Minnesota Golden Gophers) in Virtus Roma sharing team with the aussie Brock Motum (Washington State Cougars); VL Pesaro has signed four popular names: Marc Trasolini (Santa Clara Broncos), O. D. Anosike (Siena Saints), Ashley Hamilton (Loyola Marymount Lions) and Elston Turner (Texas A&M Aggies). Poland is another popular destination for rookies: Jordan Hulls (Indiana Hoosiers) signed with Energa Czarni, Cory Lucious (Iowa State Cyclones) in Rosa Radon. In Russia we find Brandon Paul (Illinois Fighting Illini) in Nizhny Novgorod. In Turkey we have other team who bet strongly in these young unexperienced players as Besiktas has signed three of them: Kevin Foster (Santa Clara Lions), Colton Iverson (Colorado State Rams) and Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso Crusaders). Same bet made by Ukranian team Ferro-ZNTU that signed Marshawn Powell (Arkansas Razorback), Jake O´Brien (Temple Owls) and Anthony Marhsall (UNLV Runnin’ Rebels).
OTHER EXOTIC DESTINATIONS
To finish, it’s important to highlight that other athletes chose other continents to start pro careers: the electric shooter Rotnei Clarke (Butler Bulldogs) will play in Australia for Wollongong Hawks; Markeith Cummings (Kennesaw State Owls) is in the Philippines in Global Port Batang Pier; In Japan we find Scootie Randall (Temple Owls) in Golden Kings Okinawa, Carl Hall (Wichita State Shockers) in Hyogo Starks or DeShawn Stephens (San Diego State Aztecs) in Hamamatsu Phoenix. In New Zealand playing for New Zealand Breakers, we find Kerron Johnson (Belmont Bruins). Other players decided to come back to their native country as Mike Rosario (Florida Gators) and Kevin Young (Kansas Jayhawks) who are playing in Puerto Rico for Leones de Ponce and Brujos de Guayama respectively. Also in South America, in Uruguay, we find Ray Turner (Texas A&M Aggies) in Biguá Basket. And Sabatino Chen (Colorado Buffaloes) signed with Yulon Dinos in Taiwan.
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