RJ Hampton to...

rabbitTown

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May 1, 2017
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Asked why he decided on this route instead of the traditional route of joining a big-time college program, Hampton said, “My dream has never been to play college basketball and my dream has been to get to the next level and to play in the NBA so I think this was the best route for me, to live like a pro and play against grown men every day and not kind have to juggle books and basketball and just focus on my main goal.”

Guess the kid has to say whatever backs up his decision at this point. Though it rings hollow, he will earn seven figures this year... and even KU/Addidas won't match that (nor should they with the likely prospect of Grimes/Dotson coming back).
However, how that translates to the draft next year and the impact on potential future earnings (vs staying in college) is yet another great experiment.
 

bgoad72

All-Conference
Apr 6, 2009
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I just woke up and was still half asleep when I read this. Immediately had to pull up my calendar and make sure it wasn’t April 1st. The whole article I was waiting for a punch line.
What great news to wake up to. Now if somehow both EJ and Richards come back it will be a fantastic day.
But answer me this? I understand if he and his dad think the schedule is more “pro” like playing/practicing in that type of atmosphere on a daily basis, and the men will be more full grown for sure, but you can’t tell me going against Hagans and the rest of our team in practice everyday wouldn’t prepare him enough. He’s gonna get paid next year anyway, so I wouldn’t think this is just a cash grab for this year.
 

FrankUnderwood

Heisman
May 26, 2017
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I don’t see why more kids don’t do this. i’m sure many of them have no interest in college, so why not play ball for a year and make some serious $$, then enter the draft. College isn’t for everyone.


“College isn’t for everyone” lol ... it’s not really that difficult for 7 months.

But on the same token, moving thousands of miles across the world “isn’t for everyone either.” Ya know?
 
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LineSkiCat14

Heisman
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Wow he said "I never ha
Happy that it’s not KU or Memphis, but this is bad news for college hoops.

It’s gonna die a slow death.

Just give the kids some of the earnings. I know that's a tough subject.. But if a kid could make 80k playing in college they probably never sniff over seas or the g-league. But when these guys get zero, it's hard not to see RJs decision as a very good alternate route.
 
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UK-Chulo

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Why tho? Mudiay (spelling?) did the same a couple years ago.

RJ is one of how many top 50 recruits that went overseas this year?
It’s still new though. Once someone figures out a blueprint that works more will follow.

Will be interesting to watch if the shift happens fast or continues at a trickle.
 
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MNantz

Heisman
Dec 20, 2001
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How can this be Cornerbaby all but guaranteed he would be assaulting women , failing drug test and kicking cars at Jailhawk land next year !! Wonder how much crying the Rug Doctor is doing to try to get the other guard to take his name out of the draft now !
 

jcmc225

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I had a feeling this was a strong possibility when the rumor was briefly mentioned. The overseas rumor is one of those rumors that tends to have fire with the smoke.
 
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Nov 7, 2008
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I might agree... if the first round wasn't always littered with foreign players, who never got US college exposure.

Its not about exposure for the draft. The top prospects are going to be watches by scours wherever.

Look at how much zions brand is worth brcause of one year in college. Espn, the tournament, televised game . He just got offered a contract by master p for non basketball shoes.

You dont get that overseas. You dont get "BROW DOWN" or the john wall dance.
 
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May 22, 2002
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I might agree... if the first round wasn't always littered with foreign players, who never got US college exposure.

Littered with?!

How many foreign players (excluding those that played college in the US) were drafted in the 1st round last year? The year before that?
 

FrankUnderwood

Heisman
May 26, 2017
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Wow he said "I never ha


Just give the kids some of the earnings. I know that's a tough subject.. But if a kid could make 80k playing in college they probably never sniff over seas or the g-league. But when these guys get zero, it's hard not to see RJs decision as a very good alternate route.


TBF a 4 year scholarship (one of many perks) can be worth well over $100k
 
Jul 11, 2007
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Hole.......E..........


I really didn't see that coming!

@ Memphis and KU:
 
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If he really had no intentions on playing in college, that’s pretty bush league to have universities waste thousands of dollars recruiting him. Hopefully Cal didn’t spend too much jet fuel on the kid

Thousands of dollars wasted? LMAO, dude, do you know how much money these kind of kids generate for universities? A couple thousand dollars is less than chump change, cut it out.
 

Shaudylo

Heisman
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Kind of off topic but kind of on topic but I see plenty of fans saying they are more excited about football now over basketball because of guys leaving early .

One thing about basketball is even if you don’t make it in the NBA you have a lot of options other than the NBA.

Football players don’t really have options like that . CFL that’s about it.
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
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Same thing was said after Brandon Jennings. Most top recruits are still going to want that exposure the best programs offer. That exposure will end up being worth more than that one year of international play.
This.
 

gracetoyou

Heisman
Apr 19, 2009
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I had a feeling this was a strong possibility when the rumor was briefly mentioned. The overseas rumor is one of those rumors that tends to have fire with the smoke.


Personally, I think it means Grimes/Dotson returns. I think he would've played in college if the right situation presented itself but it didn't. Therefore, in the end the money, shoe-contract became much more appealing.
 

BoulderCat_rivals187983

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May 22, 2002
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It's a beautiful country - went there for work back in 2016. Wine tasting, venison (they raise deer on farms for venison), jet boating, zip lines and canyon bungee jumping. Also broke my wrist snow skiing in July.
Well July is mid winter down there!

I think we will see more of this unless the g league starts to offer a salary one can live on. I’m all for it. Let these guys who have no interest in school go play for pay. Now.
 
Nov 30, 2001
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I’m sure scouts have been watching this kid in aau ball and will continue to watch him even if he’s in new zealand. no different than scouting foreign players.

I agree but every major recruit that has tried this strategy has seen their stock fall because of it. Brandon Jennings and Emmanuel Mudiay were both in the conversation as best overall prospect in their class as HS Seniors and both went mid lottery. There’s nothing wrong with that as far as getting drafted but they lost quite a bit of money too. Terrence Ferguson did the same thing and he probably lost quite a bit of money doing so after the tear he got on during the all star circuit.
 

Cawood86_rivals

Heisman
Feb 20, 2005
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UK was set in the backcourt. Had Hagans or Quickley left, he likely comes to UK. However, having read the quotes in the article, I'm not sure his mentality would have fit with Cals team first approach.
Bad decision imo of re-classifying. No real viable options for him so jumps overseas.
 
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Shaudylo

Heisman
Apr 2, 2011
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I'm honestly not sure what a college education is worth at this point. Either way.. the kids don't seem to care about that, whether we agree with the notion or not.
Yeah I think the line of thinking for most kids is if the my end up failing they can always go back to college . I’m not talking about the life scholarship either but just in general
 
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