Abrams

His limited prospects in the NBA draft would suggest he's coming back, and that seems to be the general consensus among people who follow these things from the outside.

My opinion is that he's going to stay in, try to make it to the NBA through his performance in the summer leagues and/or the NBDL, and forego his senior season.

His best bet to fashion a lucrative pro career will be overseas, but it might take him a while to figure that out.
 
I thought this was a joke at first but then realized, yes, I guess he hasn't made it official he is coming back.

He would be insane to try to make the League this time around. He needs another year. He is getting some real bad advice if he actually is going to leave.
 
As was stated above, I think he stays in. If AJ truly wants to play pro basketball, he is better off learning/developing in the D-League or overseas than spending another year at Texas.

Bottomline, he will not be a 1st rounder this year or next year, so why not do what is necessary to get better now, year round, vs continuing to be a student and playing basketball for 5 months.
 
The more important deadline for Abrams is probably July 26, since an undrafted player has 30 days after the draft to declare his intention to resume intercollegiate competition.

For everyone's info, that's a Saturday. Everyone might want to get it to the NCAA office or school or wherever it has to go by Friday afternoon, unless the mailbox rule applies. I don't know if it does.

See Rule 12.2.4.2.1
The Link
 
^^^^^ BINGO!!!
He'll never make the league and may not even make it in the Euro leagues. He's one of the 100,000 plus NCAA athletes who will be going pro in something other than sports. I just hope he realizes that!!!
 
actually, I don't think he'll have any problems catching on somewhere in Europe.

I hope he comes back....but make no mistake, if he doesn't it doesn't mean he's delusional about making the league. some players just get tired of playing college bball.
 
A friend of mine played college ball at Houston Baptist in Houston and then moved to Spain where he has his house and car paid for. He makes about $60k and doesn't have to pay taxes as he works overseas. Not much money, but when you don't have to pay for a vehicle and home he should be able to put some away. AJ is at least as good as this guy.
 
There are all sorts of opportunities to play overseas. AJ will definately have that option if he chooses to do it. It's a matter of finding the right fit in the right league. There are tons of different leagues with differing pay scales and playing conditions. He might get over there and learn that he hates playing in that environment and give up the dream, which is why he should definately get his degree. Playing overseas, most of the time, is not a flashy, ritzy lifestyle. Knowing what I know about AJ and his family, IMHO he will be back at UT next year.
 
Year by year the ability to make a much better than decent income overseas increases. The game of basketball is more global than ever before. Just ask the Spurs and teams that face the Spurs about this. They are not alone in their success with players not from the USA.

A big part of this is the quality of the leagues and Jr. systems improving every year, it seems.

It may not be an issue of AJ getting bad advice. He may flat out not want to stay here. He may know he won't probably make the NBA and that a Euro league is where he will be. He can always come back in the offseason and get his degree which would not shock me if he did so. He is a smart, nice and talented young man on and off the court.

So let's not assume he has somebody trying to ride his bank account feeding him BS about going to the NBA. I would personally be very surprised if he comes back for next year. Shcoked, actually. I would love to have him back and would be very glad to be shocked by a return. But as is, nah, he is gone from what my hunches say.

He has plenty of time to prepare for other sports in real life and again, I truly think he will get his degree soon. He's a smart cookie that may just not want to stay here.
 
And I don't understand the rationale of people who assume that everyone wants to be in college. AJ needs to do what's best for AJ. If that means honing his skills in the Bulgarian league, then whatever.
 
Again, I would fully assume it would be part of his plan to continue school in off seasons and get a degree. He is a smart young man who could do it fairly easily. But maybe he knows he won't make it to the NBA at this time, not even next year. Maybe the rationale is make money now, establish a name, begin the working out all the time without the burdens of D1 ball that seems to be so lauded by some here. It is not a cake walk, esp. on Rick's team.

Is he a bad guy? No way in hell. Is he a baller? Hell yes he is. This may not be the greatest thing for fans of the program and it may not be the very best decision but he is in the best place to determine that. He is not a dumb kid, he is not under the impression he is going in the NBA draft and he is not being pressured by false information or people tagging at his pocketbook. This is his decision, if it comes down like this, and his life.

I would love to have him decide to stay his senior year. That would be very, very awesome.
 
AJ will make millions of dollars in Europe, but I still think it'd be in his best interest to stay in school for another year.

An overseas career can wait. It's not like the NBA where you only get one shot.
 
I would bet that there isn't anyone that makes millions in Europe playing in the euro leagues. There are also rules in many of the leagues as to how many americans can play on a team.
 
Haven't we seen two or three first-hand reports from people that have run into AJ that have reported that he's gone? Like, gone gone? He ain't coming back ... his future in any league is as a PG, in his opinion, and he's not going to get that playing here - Balbay or Mason will do that next year. So he'll play D-league somewhere and work on his handle.

He's gone. Which SUCKS, because for two years running we'll have lost something like 55% of our points. Here's hoping our young'uns step up. Of course, Rich Barnes has a habit of making them do that.
 
It is clear that he should return to school again next year. Get an education and then can go play ball somewhere. He will not be drafted this year or next so play ball, learn from a great coach and get better and everything. He still has a lot to improve with his game. Then play ball. He will make pro ball overseas guaranteed. 100% sure of that. But in 1 year why not have it all, a college degree, playing for a top 25 team(at least) and then go make money and play a great fun game.
 
Um, because he may not want to and it is his life to decide what is best for him? Just speculation, of course.
 
I played overseas and can say with 110% accuracy that millonaires are playing across the waters. FYI, I am not one of them, but I have played with them. Its a nice way to make a living, but I think AJ would not be a hot prospect. Most high level leagues can only have 2 americans on their team- and those to are usually a 6'6ish+ jumping jack that dunks everything (crowd loves that) or a blazing quick point gaurd (not AJ) or a beast of a man on the boards (usually NBA tweeners 6-8/6-9/6-10 guys). That being said best of luck to AJ. Playing overseas is not a cinch. It is a crazy environment to say the least.
 
Maybe Japan has a league that's looking for a 5'9" shooting guard that can't create his own shot without the benefit of a screen. I'm sure that would be much more glamorous lifestyle than playing out his senior year at UT & getting his degree.
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Yeah, let's encourage this kid (whose aspiration is to play in the NBA) to go pro, when we all know he'll be lucky to eke out a living somewhere overseas in a league where the chances of actually making it to the NBA are like a thousand to one (if not much worse).
 
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