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Jalen Green, arguably the best player in the Class of 2020, will not be attending college.
On Thursday, Green announced he was accepting a contract offer to play in the NBA G-League next season. The deal is reportedly worth around $500,000 and could go even higher depending on endorsements.
Jalen Green’s NBA G League deal is expected to be in range of $500,000 and an ability to reach more with endorsements, appearances and education, sources told @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. https://t.co/T3DDuw8OkR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 16, 2020
However, Green won’t actually play for an official NBA G-League team like the Fort Wayne Mad Ants or Santa Cruz Warriors. Instead, he’ll play for a unique G-League squad that will have a different experience and path to the NBA in 2021.
Reporting w/ @Draftexpress: Jalen Green is making the leap to a reshaped NBA professional pathway program, a G-League initiative that’ll pay elite prospects $500K-plus and provide a one-year development program outside of minor-league’s traditional team structure. Story soon.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2020
Green's committing to become part of year-long developmental program with G-League oversight that'll include pro coaching, top prospects and veteran players who’ll combine training and exhibition game competitions against likes of G-League teams, national teams and NBA Academies.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2020
Had he picked a college, Green was down to the Memphis Tigers and Auburn Tigers, two teams in desperate need of players next season after their respective rosters were depleted this offseason.
There was a time when the Kentucky Wildcats appeared to be the leaders for Green, but once Terrence Clarke decided to reclassify from 2021, John Calipari zeroed in on him and eventually cut ties with Green.
Ironically, Clarke was also being pursued by the G-League earlier his week, but he opted to keep his commitment to UK.
Still, between Clarke considering the G-League offer and Green actually taking it, it’s becoming abundantly clear that college basketball has a major problem on its hands when it comes to getting elite recruits moving forward.