The trend of elite prospects passing on college is continuing, and perhaps a new route is now even more enticing.
Consensus top-three prospect Jalen Green out of Prolific Prep (Calif.) announced his decision to sign with G League, the NBA’s minor league body, on Thursday, three days after Michigan signee Isaiah Todd announced he was going pro as well.
While it is uncertain where Todd will play, Green made it clear he isn’t leaving the states.
“The ultimate goal is to get to the NBA,” the 6-foot-5 McDonald’s All-American, who would’ve signed with Memphis had he gone to college, said on Instagram Live. “The main reason for this is I want to get better, developed a better game. I want to work on my craft, get stronger, so that way I can be ready for the NBA. This is the best route to prepare myself, so I can be ready when that time comes.”
Yahoo Sports reported that Green will be a part of a “select team” in a yet-to-be-determined city with a few roster spots given to top high school prospects and a few veterans. The select team will not be affiliated with any current NBA or G League franchise, the league announced, and will play just 20 games. Green, according to the website, received a “substantial” six-figure contract. The deal also includes a full scholarship for him to earn a college degree.
“Of course, the money is better than an average G League contract,” his stepfather, Marcus Greene, told Yahoo Sports. “This is an opportunity to develop for the next level and to show other kids alternative ways to develop your own career and brands.”
This decision came after news spread this week that the G League is looking to land top high school prospects by offering them $500,000 contracts for one season. There were whispers that five-star recruit Terrence Clarke was going to take that path as well, before he quieted those rumors by tweeting that his decision to attend Kentucky hadn’t changed. In October 2018, the NBA announced the G League would be offering prospects $125,000 for one year.
Under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, players must be 19 years old and a year removed from high school to be eligible for the draft, though the expectation is the one-and-done rule will be coming to an end shortly, possibly as soon as 2022. In the meantime, as the NCAA drags its feet on compensating student-athletes, holding onto its archaic amateur model, select players have chosen other routes.
Last year, five-star prospect R.J. Hampton opted for Australia’s National Basketball League over college. So did LaMelo Ball, though he would not have been eligible for college after playing professionally in Lithuania during his high school years. In 2018, Syracuse signee Darius Bazley initially planned to go straight to the G League, but trained that year instead. In 2016, Terrance Ferguson played in Australia after committing to Arizona, and two years earlier, Emmanuel Mudiay opted for China over SMU. Hampton and Ball are both projected lottery picks, while Bazley, Ferguson and Mudiay were all first-rounders.