Jaylen Johnson hires agent...... Is gone.

[Kratz]

Interesting timing coming right after the story of him getting busted for pot broke. Don't see him making the NBA, but he'll get a nice check somewhere overseas to help his family. Good luck to him.


http://gocards.com/news/2017/4/24/m...will-seek-professional-basketball-career.aspx

 

[Steelers2012]

UofL announces that Jaylen Johnson is leaving school, hiring agent, pursuing pro options.

 

[ThroughBlue]

Good luck to the young man

 

[HRTheCard]

He said he's doing it for his mom and family since they helped him so much.

 

[HoptownCat93]

I do not know his financial situation, but this guy had a lot of upside and had a lot to gain by coming back for another year. But, its 2017 and thats what happens now.

 

[BrakingAnkles]

Draft stock was not going to drastically improve after another year in college. Still would be in Europe playing. Will make six figures tax free overseas. Good money.

Does UL pursue a post player that is a graduate transfer now so we can add a big body that can play immediately and still have the scholarship in 2018 or do they try and add a freshman post from 2017?

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Wishing him the best hope he can get some $ overseas or turn some NBA heads in Summer League.

Ray has a golden opportunity to show what he can do. Will be a big summer for him.

 

[Cue Card]

Sure would have liked to see him come back, but I'm OK with him leaving too. I wish him the best and hope things work out for him. Hopefully he will decide to finish his degree as he tries to make a living playing basketball. Once you have the degree, it's something they can't take away from you and it can open future doors that without it will stay closed.

Good luck Jaylen!

 

[ULarder]

Jaylen was a good player. We could have certainly used him next season. Nothing negative to say about him. On the other hand, the team will be fine at Jaylen's position.

 

[KerryRhodes]

My late Mother met Jaylen and his Mother at her Church his freshman year.

Best of luck to Jaylen and his future career.

In the off season he needs to get his degree. Im sure its already in the works.

L1C4 Jaylen.................

 

[Knucklehank1]

If he keeps his head on straight he will make a nice living in Europe. Another year of college wouldn't have changed that equation. The future value of the $100k he will make next year is worthwhile

 

[Morgantown Card]

Draft stock was not going to drastically improve after another year in college. Still would be in Europe playing. Will make six figures tax free overseas. Good money.

I agree with your statement.

Does he have his degree? If yes, I don't see anything at all wrong with going to play pro overseas. Make $100k/year for 5-10 years, get all the hot European pussy he wants, come back home, buy a house with cash and get a nice career job with his degree. Not the worst situation for a 30 year old. But if he doesn't have his degree (or doesn't plan to over the summer), well, either his family's situation is dire, Rick is forcing him out, or he's making a pretty short-sighted decision.

 

[Strongtino]

This move is 100% because of his weed arrest. Hurts UL big time next year...best rebounder and only interior player with any physicality.

 

[Morgantown Card]

only interior player with any physicality.

Agreed. This year's team really missed its "enforcer" down low and Jay had the potential to fill that role. Anas is talented and can do a lot of things, but he's never going to be that enforcer. Maybe one of the incoming freshmen? I don't follow recruiting beyond very broad strokes (a great class, a crap class, etc) so I have no idea.

 

[Strongtino]

Agreed. This year's team really missed its "enforcer" down low and Jay had the potential to fill that role. Anas is talented and can do a lot of things, but he's never going to be that enforcer. Maybe one of the incoming freshmen? I don't follow recruiting beyond very broad strokes (a great class, a crap class, etc) so I have no idea.

Nobody in this class can fill the void Jaylen is leaving. Williams is soft and Thomas isn't ready for major minutes. Rebounding will be a big problem next year and if Mitchell stays in the draft (and I think he will) this season will have went from #1 team in the country in the preseason and a 4-5 loss type season to barely top 15 and a 10+ loss season.

 

[zipp]

Jaylen's a good player, he's not a great player. You're not gonna seriously miss a guy of that caliber unless you have nothing else inside. I'm sure not ready to conclude that without seeing next year's team on the floor.

Good luck, Jaylen...

 

[BPGhost]

I never loved his game but, the team will miss the depth that he would have provided even if Spalding passed him for the starting spot. I agree with the poster that said this move is specifically related to his weed arrest. If not, he could have declared but not hired an agent and come back.

I hope for his sake that whomever he's hired, speaks multiple languages.

 

[nccardfan]

I used to think it wasn't smart for these guys to leave early but if you take the case of someone like Samardo Samuels, you quickly understand the reasons. After he left U of L he went undrafted by the NBA but managed to secure a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers for 3 years. In that timeframe he went back and forth to the D league. After his cavaliers contract was not renewed he went overseas to play in Italy. In 2012, his base salary was $859,000. Not bad income for someone I thought needed an extra year in college.

 

[longtimefanSS71]

I used to think it wasn't smart for these guys to leave early but if you take the case of someone like Samardo Samuels, you quickly understand the reasons. After he left U of L he went undrafted by the NBA but managed to secure a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers for 3 years. In that timeframe he went back and forth to the D league. After his cavaliers contract was not renewed he went overseas to play in Italy. In 2012, his base salary was $859,000. Not bad income for someone I thought needed an extra year in college.

 

[longtimefanSS71]

The money is not bad overseas and depending
where you go it can be a great life. I was over in Italy a few years ago and the only thing on I could watch was basketball. They play in relative small areas, but the fans go nuts.

If you watch the pros much; these guys can shoot the lights out That's why Montrez and others from U of L have a hard time in the pros. I can't stand UK, but look at their success in the pros and it has nothing to do with coaching. It's the fact that they can shoot. That's why Garcia lasted so long. That's why Harrell will not. Dieng looks like he will be the exception for U of L, but he's a better defender and rebounder than Harrell. I f you can't shoot in the NBA, you had better do something else extremely well; aka Dennis Rodman.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Jaylen's a good player, he's not a great player. You're not gonna seriously miss a guy of that caliber unless you have nothing else inside. I'm sure not ready to conclude that without seeing next year's team on the floor.

Good luck, Jaylen...

Exactly - I was unaware JJ was Rodney McCray. I thought he was a fun loving inconsistent guy that had a mean streak and played up and down like most everybody else.

To me it boils down to what Ray does in the off season.

The team has a lot of ? marks though - at least they know now JJ won't be around to help out.

 

[ShortCreek]

Great opportunity just opened up for Thomas and Nwora. Unless Rick pulls a graduate transfer out of his hat those two have the most to gain out of Johnson going pro. I liked what I saw out of Thomas, raw but put it on the floor some in the Derby Classic. I think he has big upside.

 

[Cue Card]

Great opportunity just opened up for Thomas and Nwora. Unless Rick pulls a graduate transfer out of his hat those two have the most to gain out of Johnson going pro. I liked what I saw out of Thomas, raw but put it on the floor some in the Derby Classic. I think he has big upside.

That's true. Players come and go, and the unknown of who's going to step up brings enough drama in the offseason to keep it interesting. Several players will have their chances to seize the moment and shine.

 

[Mike'sMarbles]

JJ wasn't going to improve his draft stock. This gives him an extra year to make a 6-figure salary overseas rather than playing for free another year. It's really a pretty good decision that more Juniors should investigate.

 

[Knucklehank1]

JJ wasn't going to improve his draft stock. This gives him an extra year to make a 6-figure salary overseas rather than playing for free another year. It's really a pretty good decision that more Juniors should investigate.

I don't understand why all players don't explore this option, especially one and done guys. Why go to college for a few months when you can make great money overseas? Guys like Fox and Monk wasted an opportunity to make a couple hundred grand.

 

[JohnKBA]

I don't understand why all players don't explore this option, especially one and done guys. Why go to college for a few months when you can make great money overseas? Guys like Fox and Monk wasted an opportunity to make a couple hundred grand.

In the big scheme of things that couple hundred grand is nothing. Living overseas, isolated from family and friends, is no fun.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

In the big scheme of things that couple hundred grand is nothing. Living overseas, isolated from family and friends, is no fun.

Some of the guys take family with them.

But you are right it's a true lifestyle adjustment that is not that easy to handle.

 

[JohnKBA]

Some of the guys take family with them.

But you are right it's a true lifestyle adjustment that is not that easy to handle.

Yeah, and outside of just the lifestyle - you go from being the man on your HS team, and in college you're going to be a rock star in your town for 9 months. You go overseas and you're just a rookie taking a veteran's job.

 

[flyercard]

I agree with your statement.

Does he have his degree? If yes, I don't see anything at all wrong with going to play pro overseas. Make $100k/year for 5-10 years, get all the hot European pussy he wants, come back home, buy a house with cash and get a nice career job with his degree. Not the worst situation for a 30 year old. But if he doesn't have his degree (or doesn't plan to over the summer), well, either his family's situation is dire, Rick is forcing him out, or he's making a pretty short-sighted decision.

Possession of a small amount of marijuana is a fine or perhaps diversion. His only real penalty would have been CRP imposed. I doubt the coach would have forced out a player who for 2 years had improved his play and contributed at a position where we need more aggressive play. Certainly none of the incoming freshmen appear to be able to fill that role immediately.

 

[Knucklehank1]

In the big scheme of things that couple hundred grand is nothing. Living overseas, isolated from family and friends, is no fun.

Oh yeah, traveling around Europe is such a drag. And who needs a couple hundred grand when you've grown up poor.

 

[nccardfan]

Oh yeah, traveling around Europe is such a drag. And who needs a couple hundred grand when you've grown up poor.

Not sure about travel arrangements in Europe but I have read that SVT says they travel in old buses and stay in cramped hotels in Japan.

 

[Kratz]

In the big scheme of things that couple hundred grand is nothing. Living overseas, isolated from family and friends, is no fun.

Tell that to our troops that do it for $35k per year. I get so tired of hearing people say that living in Europe "only" making a couple hundred grand per year isn't a good thing when we've had service members doing it for 10% of that for decades.

 

[Steelers2012]

Not sure about travel arrangements in Europe but I have read that SVT says they travel in old buses and stay in cramped hotels in Japan.

It is my understanding that it all depends on your team/country and whether you have some family around you. I've heard bad stories as well as good ones.

 

[Mike'sMarbles]

In the big scheme of things that couple hundred grand is nothing. Living overseas, isolated from family and friends, is no fun.

It depends on the individual. Some people can't wait to get far away from their families and would kill for the opportunity to explore Europe on someone else's dime.

Plus, it's not forever. If the player is smart, they kick around Europe or Asia for 10 years then retire with $1-$2M or more in the bank and lead the easy life, or come back and pick the kind of work they enjoy doing.

 

[JohnKBA]

Tell that to our troops that do it for $35k per year. I get so tired of hearing people say that living in Europe "only" making a couple hundred grand per year isn't a good thing when we've had service members doing it for 10% of that for decades.

I missed the part where Monk was in the army.

 

[JohnKBA]

It depends on the individual. Some people can't wait to get far away from their families and would kill for the opportunity to explore Europe on someone else's dime.

Plus, it's not forever. If the player is smart, they kick around Europe or Asia for 10 years then retire with $1-$2M or more in the bank and lead the easy life, or come back and pick the kind of work they enjoy doing.

I took a 2 year expat assignment where the company paid for everything (housing, driver, maid, equalized taxes) and paid me twice what I make here and it was tough. If I knew I could stay home and do what I wanted for 9 months then signed a 7 figure contract, I'd have told them to eat one.

 

[Morgantown Card]

Oh yeah, traveling around Europe is such a drag. And who needs a couple hundred grand when you've grown up poor.

Plus all the hot European girls you could ever want.

 

[Morgantown Card]

Not sure about travel arrangements in Europe but I have read that SVT says they travel in old buses and stay in cramped hotels in Japan.

Plus all the hottest Japanese chicks that SVT could ever want.

 

[flyercard]

Oh yeah, traveling around Europe is such a drag. And who needs a couple hundred grand when you've grown up poor.

Valvano and guest were just discussing JJ and the other players who probably will not make the NBA. Their consensus was that the level of play in Europe from international players as well as U.S. players, is such that it cannot now be assumed that JJ or other U.S. players will automatically find a spot. They equated the level of play with that of AAA baseball, with NCAA being AA level.

 

[Cardsmack29]

I hear the toilets drain the wrong way and everyone speaks a foreign language. That sounds terrible.

I spent 3 months in India for work. I wasn't even some big sports figure who got noticed by the locals and I wasn't traveling in some nice European country but I still enjoyed my time away. Sure, I didn't stay for a year but 3 months in a 3rd world country and I still enjoyed it without any family or friends. I only had a handful of coworkers who I'd previously never met in my life before I left to spend time with besides the locals who spoke broken or the king's English. Anyone who thinks it's a tough gig to make six figures in Europe doing what you love is full of horse manure.