Over the past couple weeks, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to attend two mini-camps held by USA basketball. I got to see young stars from the U16 and U19 teams that have some serious talent. For a lot of these young players, it is their first opportunity to represent their country. For myself, it is a great chance to see some of the country’s top prospects in a competitive setting. Listen in to hear about some of the players that caught my eye from both of these squads. I wouldn’t be surprised if a handful of these guys ended up in the NBA. 

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The draft combine just wrapped up and the NCAA early entry withdrawal deadline is just around the corner so there are some big decisions that need to be made by these young NBA hopefuls. Should you stay in school or go pro? With the way contracts are broken down, if you are projected in the first round then it is a reasonable decision to stay in the draft. There is definitely a greater financial risk if you are drafted in the second round as contracts are fully negotiable and you are missing out on potential NIL compensation that you could receive if you return to college.

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I'm currently in Chicago at the NBA Draft Combine. This is a familiar setting and I remember being back in high school when I worked here as a volunteer. The combine has definitely changed since then but I still remember some of the great relationships I forged through this event. The 2003 combine stands out for me as I remember watching players like Luke Walton, James Jones and Kendrick Perkins. Also, listen in to hear my 2015 Draft Combine experience when I represented Jordan Mickey as his agent. I'm thankful that I can reflect on all these experiences and still be able to work in the industry I love after all these years.

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