Cuse commit says no to college, heads to G-League
SAN ANTONIO — Darius Bazley believes he’s ahead of the curve. He wants to be compensated for his talents and to reach the NBA as fast as possible.
The McDonald’s All-American from Cincinnati said he feels the G-League, the NBA’s developmental arm, sets him up best in that endeavor.
The multi-talented 6-foot-9 forward, a consensus top-10 recruit, announced the start of a new path Thursday, opting to bypass college and go straight to the G-League.
“I’m aware that this might start a trend and that’s one of the reasons why I am doing this,” Bazley, who had signed with Syracuse, but will almost certainly never play a game for the Orange, told Yahoo Sports. “This is going to happen down the road and become more common. But someone has to start the fire — and I believe I’m going to do that, and it’s very important to me.”
Player salaries in the G-League have bases of $19,500 or $26,000. The league recently changed the way it pays players by adding twoway contracts between the NBA and G-League, and offering guar- anteed money to players who attend team training camps. However, that wouldn’t apply to Bazley, because of the one-and-done rule that prohibits players from being eligible for the NBA draft until they are at least 19 years old or one year removed from graduating high school. Players are eligible for the G-League once they turn 18.
Other top-rated prospects have taken routes other than college in recent years. Brandon Jennings went to Europe in 2008, Emmanuel Mudiay chose China in 2014 and Terrance Ferguson played in Australia in 2016. But Bazley is the first to opt for the G-League.
“I will get more out of that than going overseas,” Bazley said. “The G-League is the closest thing to the NBA. I see most guys now are spending time in the G-League even after they went to school and the draft, so this gives me the chance to accelerate the process.”
During the NCAA Tournament, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim had an interesting take on the problems facing college basketball, and took aim at the suggestion the GLeague was a solution.
“This whole thing about, ‘Oh, yeah, let’s get them in the G- League.’ Have you ever been to the G-League?” Boeheim asked. “Have you gone to a G-League game? You ever lived where those guys live? They’re adults, 23-, 24-year-old guys. Now you’re going to be 17year-old guys there? You’ve got to be crazy.”
If Bazley does indeed start a new trend, NCAA president Mark Emmert doesn’t seem concerned.
“I think that’s a choice that ought to be available to him and anyone else,” Emmert said.
“It should be about: What are the choices and options available to those young men?”