[Da1potParticipant]

 

 

 

 

 Source:Rivals.yahoo.com

The quick-as-lightning, high-scoring, show-stopping point guard from Patterson (Md.) High School returned from a recent tournament in Milan, Italy, with a $750,000 contract offer that conceivably could be worth nearly $1 million.

Really? Yes.

But before anyone need shout that this is just the latest example of too-much too-soon in the youth athletic world, realize this — the offer from Lottomatica Virtus Roma of the Italian league actually makes sense when you break it down.

It’s the result of a perfect storm of events that culminated with Carr leading the U.S. team to a gold medal at the Junior International Tournament in Milan in late April.

Consider:

• Carr was the best player in the tournament, averaging more than 40 points per game;

• Carr’s height — or lack thereof — actually gives him more of a professional appeal. The Italian fans literally carried him off the court after his heroics in one game;

• The pro team making the offer had great success with its previous U.S. high school import, Brandon Jennings, who used his year in Italy to improve his NBA draft status;

• Under Armour, which already has Jennings as a client, is looking for the next fresh face in the European market. Carr, who already plays on an Under Armour sponsored AAU team, could be in line for a shoe deal, too;

• And though Carr is still a sophomore, he is an over-aged one. He’s already 17 and will turn 18 during the next school year.

While all of these things work in his favor, staying in the U.S. may not. Because of his height and some academic concerns, Carr actually is only considered an upper mid-level collegiate prospect here, according to Rivals.com national basketball analyst Jerry Meyer.

Carr, who first confirmed the offer to Scouts Focus chief scout Joe Davis, told Davis the offer is something he is considering right now — and for the future.

"Yes, I would be interested in [playing abroad] one day," Carr told Davis on the video above. "It was fun over there. I had to get adjusted to how they were playing. My second, third, fourth and fifth game, I was averaging like 41 points.

"I just want to keep [the Roma offer] in mind. I don’t want to make my decision so fast. But perhaps we might do that."

It’s unclear how long the offer will be on the table. And while his high school coach, Harry Martin, told Prep Rally he expects Carr to return to school, he did it with some hesitation.

The terms of Carr’s offer were confirmed by Martin and another person close to the Carr family, with Martin adding that Carr plans to speak with Jennings about playing in Italy in the near future.

Virtus Roma is the same Italian side that signed Jennings to a $1.2 million, three-year contract when the 18-year-old point guard decided to decline a scholarship offer to Arizona in favor of a season of professional basketball in Italy. Jennings, of course, returned to the U.S. after one season in Rome and was a lottery draft pick for the Milwaukee Bucks, for whom he has become an All-Star starting guard.

In addition to his AAU affiliation with the brand, Carr’s high school program in Baltimore will also begin a two-year affiliation with Under Armour beginning next fall. Part of that athletic sponsorship will include an appearance by Patterson High at the Brandon Jennings Invitational next January in Milwaukee.

Martin said that Jennings himself plans to meet Carr and discuss playing in Italy with him in the coming months. It’s clear that while Carr’s current plan may be to finish high school in Maryland, he and his family will keenly consider all options on the table.

"I think he’s committed to playing for Patterson for the next two years, and then he would consider all options," Martin told Prep Rally. "I think it’s just him keeping his options open. …

"This time next year we’ll have a better understanding what he’s doing academically and what his options are."

While it is unknown if or when Carr might accept the Virtus Roma contract offer, the source close to the Carr family told Prep Rally that he expected the Carrs and the player’s team of advisers to consider European options seriously. While Carr has a cult following in the Baltimore-D.C. corridor — he scored 58 points in a victory against Forest Park (Md.) High this winter and he reportedly has a 48-inch vertical leap — some question whether he would academically qualify to compete at the NCAA level, or whether he would be successful there given his height. Martin said he was already beginning to reach out to European contacts to see what Carr’s true market value might be should he decide to play abroad.

Carr’s family could make the transition to Europe slightly easier if the athlete does decide to take that option, as well. The sophomore’s parents still live together in Baltimore and he has only two siblings, both of whom are already out of the house; his older brother Allen Jr. was a standout football player in the Baltimore high school football scene and his older sister Ashley will graduate from nearby Towson University in the coming weeks. It’s possible that either one of his siblings — or his father, Allen, or mother, Tammy — could move abroad with Carr should he choose to play in Italy.

The $750,000 offer is not the first made to a pre-graduation American teenager by a European club, but it is the most lucrative. Six-foot-11 San Diego (Calif.) High star Jeremy Tyler left school after his junior season with a plan to play professionally for two years before declaring for the NBA Draft. He first signed a $140,000 contract with Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Haifa, in April 2009, but left Maccabi after just 10 games and returned to practice near his home in March of 2010. Four months later Tyler signed a contract with the Tokyo Apache of the Japanese professional league, for which he has competed in the 2010-11 season.

Many have pointed to Carr’s height as the primary reason to doubt his skills. Rivals.com analyst Jerry Meyer said it will be interesting to see if Carr’s skills transfer to the professional game in Europe, should he decide to accept his offer.

"The question on Carr as a high level basketball prospect is whether or not his strengths as a player are strong enough to overcome his lack of height.  Evidently, Virtus Roma thinks so."

It’s also instructive to ponder whether Carr’s European recruitment could serve as a potential watershed moment in how Euro teams approach American prospects. The European leagues have traditionally feasted on U.S. players who wash out of the NBA or aren’t able to make its initial cut, with the notable exception of Josh Childress’ spell in Greece and Jennings’ time in Rome, among a few others. At the same time, European soccer clubs rely on an academy system to fuel their success, acquiring and training athletes at a young age and helping to build them into stars at the club.

While it’s a stretch to say that a signing of Carr alone might signal a switch to American incorporation in the academy model, a successful transition into the Italian game from the Baltimore native might open doors to such a possibility for other American teenagers.

From the experiences Carr had at the Junior International Tournament, there is little question that the pint-sized point guard enjoyed his first trip to Italy. In addition to an impromptu Aquille Carr fan club, which was pictured hanging signs in Milan at the U.S. games, Martin said Italian fans in general flocked to treat Carr and his teammates as celebrities.

"I know after one game he scored 45 points and Italian fans carried him off the court," Martin told Prep Rally. "They tell me the kids over there had him signing lots of autographs. He loved it. That’s what he was looking forward to. Experience the different culture and lifestyle over there, and experience some tourist things."

 

 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

 I could understand if he did, it might be too much too turn down, and if he does have academic concerns than it is definitely something to consider. Talk about an education all you want, that can be bought with the money he makes playing pro ball. But, I really wanted to see how he did throughout the rest of his HS career and hopefully college. He is a very fun player too watch, and one of the more interesting small guard prospects to hit the scene in a long time. Hope he does whatever is best for him and his family, but selfishly, I hope he puts off his European career. If he does go overseas, he will be one to keep an eye on. Kid is a warrior, and even with his lack of size, his athleticism and speed are off of the charts. 

Here is a link to another story:

 http://www.bouncemag.com/2011/05/09/aquille-carr-gets-an-italian-league-pro-offer/

[kanyedabestParticipant]

quite frankly i think he’d be crazy if he didnt take it. At his size realistacally he probably wont stick in the nba and if you have a chance to go make some money and shoe deals i think he needs to jump at it. He will end up playing in europe anyway once his college career ends why not go now?

[canesboy6Participant]

His highlights are crazy. Never seen jukes like he’s got before. I feel like his size is almost an advantage, because nobody can catch him. No idea how he is going to play defense though, but maybe he will be a steals demon with his quickness.

[ChrispyParticipant]

rumors are he is 17 and in 10th and will be an old 19 graduating senior who will still need a year of Prep school to qualify. That makes him almost 21 entering his Freshman year in college. Take the money and run, work on your GED and see what happens. Doesn’t look like college is much of an option for him…at least not a good one.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

http://www.sportando.net/eng/italy/serie-a/27276/tanjevic_denies_rumors_on_aquille_carr_in_roma.html

 

Jonathan Givony (sorry, Aran 🙁 ), has this up on his twitter, as it seemed as if he was up in arms about this whole thing. He said, and I quote:

"Refuse to believe that Lottomatica Roma would offer a 5-6 17-year old mid-major prospect- Aquille Carr a 750k contract"

 

"Why would you offer Aquille Carr 750k (maybe 4-5 non-EU-passport American PGs in Europe make that) when you can get him for 75k? Ridiculous."

 

"Lottomatica Roma has made their fair share of dumb signings,but this would be the most ridiculous move in the history of European basketball"

 

"Calling major BS on whole story."

 

and today:

 

"As I said yesterday, the Rivals article on Aquille Carr was ridiculous. Total fantasy stuff. Shouldn’t have even gotten by the editor."

 

 

Pretty harsh. I mean, you do not have to believe it, but why be this up in arms about it? Jennings signed for atleast that much, and while Aquille may not be Jennings, he would be a draw. That does seem to be a lot of money to give to a 17 year old kid though, but I wish their would be more education and less outrage when these things happen. Hey, that is why I love this site and think it is the best draft site on the web. They are different, but if I want to get good basketball info, no site better than NBADraft.net!

 

Still, just came by this and wanted to tell everyone about it. This will be interesting to watch. It definitely seems like Aquille may take the pro route due to academics, but maybe not as soon as next year. He is a fantastic prospect, but he still definitely can work on aspects of his game to be at the best level possible to contribute right away at the pro level. You have to love how he pressures the ball on D, that is what guys his size have to be able to do, so that is a great start. Offensively, his outside game probably needs to become more consistent, and I am sure he will need to learn how to play against bigger more physical competition. He seems to have a solid build, but at a buck 40, he needs to definitely gain more strength. Very interesting story to follow though.

 

[Author]

Posts