Can't blame him. Kids go to college for three years and start working all the time. Leron has been here four. If he can make a couple hundred thousand vs living at poverty like levels to get his master's in communications and pray for the chance to play in a tourney game, I think I would personally take the money also.
Leron Black
- Status
He saying many of us would trade a lot for another year in college. Nothing wrong with getting a masters either.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
NBA D League vs. Europe article...talks about the pay and advantages, it's dated but interesting.
http://sportsagentblog.com/2012/07/...asketball-why-dont-more-players-go-to-europe/
http://sportsagentblog.com/2012/07/...asketball-why-dont-more-players-go-to-europe/
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
There is a limited window to make a living playing basketball. Four or five years isn't changing Black's NBA prospects, so I imagine he will go. Best of luck Leron, you will surely be missed on the team next year!
3 point girl
- texas
To this day I am convinced that had Meyers Leonard stayed in school one more year he would be playing more, have made more money(although he has made a ton), and would have at least doubled the career stats he now has. Only averaging 5 points & 3 rebounds a game for his career with only playing time of 7 minutes or so a game this season.
He can continue his development while playing pro ya know. It's not like he planned on being here for 5 years when he committed.
The only way that Leron gets drafted is if he improves his handles and becomes a 3 but that ain't happening. It was a goal early on in his career but he never showed true potential as a 3. He is what he is and he's damn good at what he does but he's not a future draft pick.
3 point girl
- texas
Cant remember exact numbers but I think if he would have stayed in school one more year & been in the top 4 picks in the draft he would have made as much in that first year as almost all of his first 3 years combined in the NBA.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Leron is a beast, we knew he'd "test the waters." This is hardly that bad of news, and I think he comes back for one more year. Hope so, anyway. 
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Black is 95% gone (confidence interval determined by abacus). Don't buy into false hope.
same here. Would kill for him to be an Illini one more year!
BlindLoyalty
- FartNoiseMotivation
If you were a contributor at a P5 conference there is a spot on a professional roster for you. Here is a quick list of former UI players on non-NBA professional basketball rosters for the current season.
2017-18 Season
Maverick Morgan - GTK Gliwice (Poland)
Malcom Hill - Telekom Baskets Bonn (Germany)
Jaylon Tate - Niagra River Lions (Canada)
Ahmad Starks - KW Titans (Canada)
Nnanna Egwu - Taipans (Australia)
Tracy Abrams - APOP Paphou (Cyprus)
DJ Richardson - Trikalla (Greece)
Demetri Mccamey - F Kontatto BO (Italy)
Mike Davis - Ankara DSI (Greece)
Dominique Keller - Olimpia (Uruguay)
Alex Legion - Dinamica MNV (Italy)
Trent Meacham - Boulazac (France)
Rodney Alexander - Elitzur K-A (Israel)
Brian Carlwell - Perry Lakes Hawks (Australia)
Jamar Smith - Unics (Russsia)
James Augustine - Unicaja (Spain)
Last season (2016-17) Cosby (UK), Thorne (Slovenia), Bertrand (Germany), Stan Simpson (Uruguay) were also on rosters.
Good Luck Leron.
Fake geography.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
That was my first thought. That and Augie's still playing.
Per Wikipedia (if accurate):
Alex Legion is an American professional basketball player for Pallacanestro Mantovana of the Italian Serie A2.
James Augustine is an American professional basketball player for Unicaja of the Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. (concurs with BlindLoyalty)
Michael Edward Davis is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA Development League.
BlindLoyalty
- FartNoiseMotivation
⌘C ⌘ V error, apologies
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
if he leaves that obviously seriously diminishes hopes of a rebound season next year but if he can find a good spot for him to make some money then you can’t blame him
Jaylon Tate is doing very well in Canada as well so there is little doubt Black could have a pretty good career
No doubt he can play somewhere and get paid, but question is what will he settle for. I am quite certain many of those listed above are not making much playing b-ball even if they are still playing. I think LeRon has a legit chance of playing in the NBA if he can develop a decent ability to put the ball on the deck and drive to the basket. I think staying in college gives him the best opportunity to develope that skill. Plus he get as much court time and be more the focus of the offense at U of I than any professional team he would sign with.
But, he is gonna do, what he is gonna do. Just hope as a fan it is one more year at U of I.
BlindLoyalty
- FartNoiseMotivation
"Pallacanestro Mantovana, known for sponsorship reasons as Dinamica Mantova, is an Italian professional basketball team based in Mantua, Lombardy."
Link to latest boxscore for Mike Davis in Turkey
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Making an international roster is not a challenge, making money is. There are very few international teams at a high level that pay decent salaries, G-league does not either. From the long list above, only Augustine makes very good money (and has made good money for years in Euroleague) followed by Jamar who although plays for Unics Kazan (not in Euroleague), they have a good team that used to be in Euroleague and generally pays well.
Making money in basketball beyond college has become a difficult proposition, so it is extremely crucial the status you reach coming out of college. Unless you start at a decent level, it is a long and painful road. Black is not at that level, so improving his stock is important, his best option is coming back to college, Illinois or elsewhere.
Given his family situation it is virtually impossible to fault Leonard for going pro early.
No love for Cory Bradford? Still making money at age 40 playing hoops. Now THAT is a career!
http://druga.aba-liga.com/player.php?id=2797
http://druga.aba-liga.com/player.php?id=2797
That's not guaranteed though. He could've torn his ACL and dropped to a 2nd round pick potentially and not been guaranteed anything. I don't see how any sane person would turn that down in Meyers spot. If you're guaranteed to go in the first round (which he was), you need to go. Look at Miles Bridges, he's likely to drop in the draft rankings from where he would've went last year.
- Status