Football

• It does seem as though a lot of underclassmen are deciding to leave early this year [Rookie wage scale could prompt more underclassmen to leave school].
• I’m not so sure that there is nothing wrong with a player agent also representing a GM in the same sport [Let the agent wars begin]

Hockey

• Paul Krepelka says they are “taking things slow and keeping it low key” [Hockey agent gets his shot at McCarthy].

Baseball

• The MLBPA has determined that Boras Corp.’s loans to Edward Salcedo did not break rules in place at the time [Union finds no rule-breaking by agent Scott Boras].
• High ranking baseball officials seem to not be as convinced [Selig Is Said to Be Unsatisfied With Union’s Stance on Boras].
• Baez has signed 53 players to professional baseball contracts [Fraud charges for Victor Baez after he allegedly lies about ages of players from Dominican Republic].

Basketball

• Leon Rose – the family man from Cherry Hill [Shot Caller].
• Len Elmore believes that the best way to combat agents, runners and misleading advisers is through information and education [Inside iHoops].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (1/7/2011) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Back in March, I wrote about Cleveland Indians’ outfielder Shin-Soo Choo switching from Octagon to Scott Boras, and his impending service in the South Korean Army.  As a South Korean-native, the 28-year old Choo was slated to spend two years in the national Army before reaching 30.  However, after winning the gold medal in last week’s Asian Games with his national team, South Korea has rewarded Choo by rescinding his military requirement.

The Indians and Boras are definitely winners alongside Choo in this decision.  Shin-Soo is one of the Indians best talents, and his stock is certainly rising.  Last year Choo hit .300 and 90 RBIs (top 15 in the American League in both), and 22 homeruns and stolen bases.  Indians manager Manny Acta called Choo “one of the best players in the majors right now.” For Boras, taking the risk that one of his rising stars will have to spend two years in the military, away from the game, has paid off.  Unlike many other Asian players, Choo did not play professional baseball outside the United States.  After being selected as the MVP in the 2000 World Junior Baseball Championship, Choo signed a contract with Seattle Mariners.

New Indians GM Chris Antonetti has said that working out a long-term deal for Choo is a team priority.  Choo made $461,100 last season, and is eligible for salary arbitration before the start of the 2011 season.  His contract has three more years left on it, but Boras will certainly work to get a substantial raise for his client via arbitration, and look towards a lucrative, possibly long-term deal for Choo.

Choo Staying For Good, Boras Wins Out from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

On this federal holiday that we honor America’s military veterans (Veterans Day), let’s take a look far overseas, where a new baseball league has been created and is in its first year of operation.

Last Saturday, the Australian Baseball League (ABL) officially began play.  It is not the first baseball to be played in Australia, but it could be the most legit installment of professional baseball the country has ever seen.  Major League Baseball is supporting its operation, which currently consists of six teams, with the possibility of adding two more in the near future.

Winter baseball is very popular amongst Minor League prospects, and even some Major League players, who are looking to strengthen their weaknesses and earn additional money in the offseason.  The Caribbean Winter Leagues, comprised of leagues in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic have been great places for the countries’ natives and American-born players to play in the Winter months.  Australia may be a new alternative to those leagues.

This is great news for baseball agents.  There are more opportunities to place players looking to play in the Winter months, and with more options, agents may weigh where they want to place their clients based on factors like location and salary.  A bidding war between an Australian team and a Puerto Rican team might be unlikely, but at least there is a new league to consider sending your players.

Australia Is Playing Baseball In The Winter from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

I’m just reporting the facts on this one, so if you are a party involved in this matter, don’t get upset (there is no malice involved in my write-up).  Anyway, in my MLB Draft Day 1 breakdown, I listed the advisors next to the players who were fortunate to be early draftees.  With pick #22 overall, the Texas Rangers selected Kellin Deglan, a Canadian catcher committed to Florida International University who was being advised by Double Diamond Sports Management.  Deglan ended up being the 1st player selected in the 1st round to sign with a team, albeit for a below-slot deal ($1 million).  No matter what Deglan signed for, it is likely that Double Diamond expected its advising commission of whatever was agreed to by the advisor and advisee prior to the draft.  It is not uncommon for that commission to be set at 5% of the player’s signing bonus.

In a post titled, You don’t say: Player in Scott Rothstein Ponzi scheme ripped off!, Jose Lambiet wrote (I did not change a single word or add emphasis on any phrases),

One of the alleged players in the Scott Rothstein Ponzi scheme is going to spend what could be his last few months of freedom chasing a professional baseball player who, he said, ripped him off!

Howard Kusnick, a partner in Rothstein’s now-defunct Fort Lauderdale-Boca Raton lawfirm expected to be indicted for his role in the $1.4 billion scam, last week filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit in a Palm Beach County court.

The lawsuit alleges that Kusnick’s Double Diamond Sports Management represented Major League baseball first-round draftee Kellin Deglan, a catcher prospect of the Texas Rangers. Kusnick supposedly babysat Deglan through the pre-draft weeks — and now Deglan won’t pay the $50,000 he allegedly owes Double Diamond for the work.

That amount of money, according to the lawsuit, represents five percent of the 18-year-old Deglan’s $1 million-signing bonus.

In the lawsuit, Kusnick is also kvetching about the fact he had to buy all kinds of baseball equipment for Deglan, including a $110-Oakley glasses.

When a 1st round draft pick does not pay his advising fee, it is probably worth it to go after that kind of money in court.  I do not see the suit as being bad publicity, instead, I commend the filing of the suit because it may serve to let players understand that advisors provide a time-consuming and research-intensive service that deserves just compensation.  One can argue about whether 5% is fair compensation, but since it is fairly solid custom in the industry to charge that amount, that defense probably won’t have strong legs.

I assume that Deglan and Kusnick will settle prior to a hearing for something slightly less than $50,000, but if Deglan decides to see this through, I would be very interested to follow the case and see what the outcome will be.

Kellin Deglan Being Sued For Advising Fees from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

The players who are going to commit to an advisor within the next couple of weeks should be well prepared in the “selection process”.  Just as there are a variety of choices in any isle of your local supermarket, there are many different types of advisors.  Things that an athlete should consider include the advisor’s knowledge base, connectivity to baseball decision makers, negotiating style, track record, and fee structure.  From a biased standpoint, the perfect book for an athlete and his family to read prior to making the important advisor selection is An Athlete’s Guide to Agents, Fifth Edition.  I am biased, because I am a Contributing Writer on the book.

The publisher has been nice enough to share a chapter from the book, free of charge, for your enjoyment.  Chapter 7 is titled, Making the Selection, and it provides some excellent tips about what an athlete and his family should be looking for in an advisor.  I especially like this tip:

Ask a prospective agent for proof of educational background, training, and work experience – particularly in the sports field. The agent’s experience and record is particularly crucial if he is going to manage money.

Another very important entry for high school and college baseball players to read comes sandwiched between Chapters 8 and 9, and is titled, A Perspective on a Talented High School Baseball Player’s Dilemma.  The first sentence reads: “Should a graduating high school senior sign a professional baseball contract or attend college first?”  Talk about a loaded question!  But this is a decision that many athletes must confront, and without the aid provided by a competent advisor, this decision (which is probably the biggest one thus far in the athlete’s life) could be made in error.

I have embedded the aforementioned Chapter 7, below.

Making the Selection

Two Weeks From MLB Draft – Do You Know Who Your Advisor Is? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Super-baseball agent Scott Boras has a new client, Cleveland Indians rising start Shin-Soo Choo.  The right fielder, who hit .300 and 20 homeruns last year is part of the Indians grand scheme for the future…maybe.  The recent change in representation to Boras from Octagon Worldwide’s Al Nero, may throw a curveball at the Indians chances of locking Choo up at the price they want.  Choo is up for arbitration after the 2010 season, and a free agent in 2013.

There is, however, an obstacle standing in Boras’ way to collecting a big payday from Choo.  As a native of South Korea, he must serve two years in the South Korean Army before reaching 30 (two years from this July).  There are two ways he can get out of this: 1) If his team wins the gold in this November’s Asian Games, or 2) he gains his U.S. citizenship, and its been rumored that he’s studying for the test.  Maybe Boras has some pull in the INS?  Boras must see that special something in Choo, because he’s willing to take the risk of what two years away from professional baseball might do to Choo’s game.

Scott Boras Is All Aboard The Shin-Soo Choo Train from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Starting in 2009, there are two classes of free agents: international and domestic.  Domestic free agents can only sign with other NPB teams while international free agents are free to try their luck overseas as well as sign domestically.

In order to qualify as an international free agent, players must play nine seasons in the NPB.  To qualify as a domestic free agent, players drafted before 2007 must wait eight seasons.  Players drafted after 2007 are only required to wait seven seasons before being declared domestic free agents.  This is a much longer period than in MLB.  Can you imagine an MLB superstar having to wait eight seasons before signing with a big market club?

Also, in contrast to MLB regulations, players must be on the team’s top roster for 145 days in order for it to count as a “year” for free agency purposes.  Time spent injured or in the minors does not count.  Therefore, it can take much longer than eight or nine years for a player to be eligible for free agency in Japan.

Further, teams that sign a domestic free agent in Japan are required to compensate the player’s former team with either money or players.  Many players decline free agency and remain with their teams.  This basically means that Japanese free agency is almost non-existent compared to MLB.  For example, after the 2008 season, 83 players qualified for free agency.  Only 7 actually filed.

This year, roughly the same amount of players are eligible.  One Japanese player has already filed: Ryota Igarashi of the Yakult Swallows. Igarashi is a 30-year-old right-handed relief pitcher.  He went 3-2 with three saves and a 3.19 ERA in 56 games last season.  His best season was 2004 when he had 37 saves and 86 strikeouts in 66 games.  It will be interesting to see how many more actually file.

Japanese Free Agency from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Recently, this proposal has been picked up by various major media outlets.  Tom Farrey’s piece on ESPN.com, sparked a lot of interest across the World Wide Web.  His story talks about a distinction within the same proposal I talked about in August, that would allow athletes who do not earn a professional salary, but play alongside other athletes that do, to retain their amateur eligibility (which apparently they forgo under the current NCAA Amateurism rules).  It definitely does not make sense that one athlete on a team could jeopardize the amateur eligibility of all of his teammates.

Here is a telling fact from the ESPN.com article,

Of the 490 incoming athletes penalized for amateurism violations last year, 434 were foreign students, according to the NCAA.

The NCAA Amateurism Cabinet held a meeting regarding this proposal on September 24.  For the full report from that meeting, click here.  The result regarding NCAA Proposal No. 2009-22: Men’s Ice Hockey will be excluded.  Here is the relevant justification section of that report:

The ice hockey community strongly believes that many more prospective student-athletes seeking to participate in NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey would elect to participate in Major Junior A hockey prior to initial collegiate enrollment. As a result, although the proposal would permit such activity, their eligibility status would likely be jeopardized once they became involved in the Major Junior A leagues (e.g., by being influenced to accept more than actual and necessary expenses, signing with an agent, or by signing a professional contract). The ice hockey community expressed concern that the Canadian Hockey League, the governing body for Major Junior A ice hockey, would intentionally attempt to jeopardize prospective student-athletes’ NCAA eligibility in order to retain their services and continued participation in their league. Further, the ice hockey community asserted that participation in Major Junior A hockey would be detrimental to prospective student-athletes’ academic success given the demands of participation in that league. Lastly, USA Hockey commented that the proposal would adversely impact future U.S. performance in international competition, including the Olympic Winter Games.

So ice hockey is out, but the rest of the NCAA sports are still attached to the proposed NCAA legislation.

Last, I want to touch on an interesting question that was brought to my attention by Minor Leaguer and prolific blogger, Garrett Broshuis.  Broshuis received an email from another MiLB player who noted,

The salaries that some guys make in short season or extended spring training aren’t even considered large enough for the NCAA to qualify it as a professional salary.

And Broshuis ends his piece by asking,

If a player receives a tiny signing bonus and never makes it out of short-season professional baseball, could he then maintain amateur status? This thought is as absurd as the current salary structure.

This is definitely out of the question if said player hires an agent.  Once an agency contract is signed by the player, he automatically loses his amateur eligibility, and once it is lost, it can never be returned.  But what if the player never hires an agent?  What are your thoughts?

In-Depth Discussion About NCAA Proposal No. 2009-22 from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal announced that they would expand their sports section from its once-a-week appearance to an everyday section, and I’ve been following the online version since.  Last week I came across a very interesting article by Allen Barra, and I wanted to explore the possibilities of an idea he proposed.  Barra argued that with the exception of MLB, America’s major sports leagues don’t pay for the development of their athletes.  Rather, this financial burden is placed on their collegiate institutions.  Based on Murray Sperber’s evaluation of college sports, Barra noted that most college athletic departments lose money and drain funds from alumni and taxpayers.  Apparently, this is an injustice.  Barra’s solution to this problem: The NFL, MLB, and NBA should provide a full scholarship to each school for every player drafted from that institution.

The fact that major league baseball is supported by their extensive minor league system should be enough reason to take them out of the equation, but they do still draft many college players.  Almost all of these players will still enter the minor league system to be trained for the big leagues, unlike their NFL and NBA counterparts.  So let’s include them anyway.  Perhaps each major league team could give a 50% scholarship rather than full tuition for every player placed on a minor league roster.

The real bulk of this question is dealing with the NFL and NBA.  Why on earth would they ever agree to this?  More importantly, how would the NCAA ever hold a strong enough position on the situation that they could strong arm the leagues into completing such a deal?  The simple answers to these questions are that they probably wouldn’t, and that the NCAA never will have this ability, unless they have incriminating pictures of Roger Goodell and David Stern.  However, consider this possible benefit for both leagues: They can stop trying to convince themselves that they are even capable of creating systems that are a one-hundredth as effective as baseball’s minor leagues.

First take a look at the NBA Developmental League.  According to the league’s website, over 15% of current NBA players are D-League alumni.  That’s actually a lot higher of a percentage than I would’ve imagined, but compare this to the amount of professional baseball players cycled through the minor league system.  Furthermore, it’s been 8 years since play began and the league still only has about half the amount of teams of the NBA.  I would hardly call that a successful minor league system.  The developmental league has sent several noteworthy players up to the big leagues, like Rafer Alston and Jamario Moon, but these aren’t enough reasons to keep the league around.  The only reason I agree with for keeping the D-League is that it gives many players who will never make it to the NBA the opportunity to play ball at the next level.  If I had to guess, the D-League isn’t much of a revenue stream for the NBA.  If it’s anything like its defunct NFL counterpart, NFL Europa, it’s actually losing money.  The vision of a development league for the NFL closed its doors in 2007, 16 years after it started play.  The league reportedly lost about $30 million a year.  Off the top of my head, Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme are the only players I can think of that started their professional careers in NFL Europa.  It just seems that there is no place for second-tier football leagues anymore.  The Arena Football League just suspended play, and who knows if they will make a comeback.  The United National Gridiron League which envisioned itself as a sort of minor league system for the NFL had a planned 2009 start date, but has already postponed this until 2010.

This brings us back to the question of why the NFL and NBA would give back to the colleges, even if it gave them good reasons to shut down their sub-par minor leagues.  For starters, it would look good.  Potentially it could create more competition among programs as they look to attain scholarships, resulting in higher quality athletes.  On the surface, Barra’s idea is pretty sound, and would make for great PR.  But it’s extremely hard to believe that something like this would ever work, so I’ve thought of a different solution to off-set this “free” training.  As an aspiring agent, I obviously want my clients to be successful monetarily, but I also want them to exhibit respectable character traits and morals.  If a majority of agents advocated that their clients personally donated a scholarship to their alma mater once such an act became financially feasible, I believe that all parties involved would be thoroughly satisfied.  Moreover, it would reflect greatly on the character of the athlete.  This is just a thought.  I’m sure many athletes already give back to the universities that gave so much to them, but a structured program, perhaps through the league or players association, would do leaps and bounds for the morality of sports in America.

Who’s Paying the Tab? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

I was recently asked for my take on whether a kid should sign a professional baseball contract out of high school or attend college first. Let me preface that there is no right or wrong answer to this question. Each player is unique and if they are fortunate enough to have this decision to make someday, they will be playing baseball regardless of choice, which is the root of the decision.

Imagine you are one of the select few high school senior baseball players in the country, you are 18 years old, and you have the dream of playing major league baseball someday. Now imagine just being a typical teenager who always felt education continues past high school and into college. It has been said that 98% of learning on a college campus happens outside the classroom. Campus life, campus community, meeting new people, making lifelong friends, working towards a degree, maturing as a person and dealing in a new social atmosphere. Growing up within the overall college experience as a young man. You get to do this only once at this stage of life. This has value.

Now you can add in the student-athlete label. You will be part of a team that plays for a common goal. You will continue to develop as a player, a teammate, a friend. You will represent your institution, your coaches, teammates, and student body. You will be a part of the fabric of your chosen institution. This has value.

You will transition into a more independent person while having multiple support systems including your coaches, academic advisors and fellow teammates. During these 3-4 years of personal growth and development, the goal of professional baseball will still be there in most cases. The idea of being away from home will become less an issue. Time management skills will be enhanced, routines will become, “routine”, and you will be at, or near a complete college education. And you play baseball too. This has value.

Keep in mind that there are always kids who have no desire to attend college. For this article, let’s exclude them simply because they just want to play baseball only, whether they were the high school class valedictorian or barely skated by.

I chose to interview some players and/or parents of minor league rookie ball and A ball levels. One common thing they all said was that baseball is a business, and you learn that fast. Several also mentioned difficulties in filling the idle time each day when baseball wasn’t to be played or practiced. Does a rookie find a job, take extra cuts at the field, sit around watching daytime TV, take online classes? Experts in baseball, which I am not, have stated that the 8 hours each day a professional baseball player is not sleeping or playing baseball can be the difference in progressing versus regressing. College students fill that time being college students. This has value.

So what are some of the factors a high school senior, committed to a college baseball program needs to evaluate if he gets drafted and has to make a choice?

The economic term “opportunity cost” is basically the benefit foregone by making one decision over another. I am one who believes that this is the core value in the entire equation. Others may believe the theory that “it just feels right” is another basis. Let’s talk about value, then investment.

• What is the value assigned to spending 3-4 years in a college social atmosphere starting at age 18?
• What is the value of being a contributor on a college baseball team?
• What is the value of college baseball instruction?
• What is the value of a college degree? After 3 years of college?

It is difficult to assign dollars to these equations simply because each case is very unique. Some student-athletes use college mostly for its intended purpose, to get more education and a degree. Others use the college venue for baseball only to attempt to get drafted, or enhance their draft value in future years. Most juggle both aspects tremendously. These are the players proponents of the pro game say are being surpassed by their peers by spending time in college versus getting minor league instruction right after high school. They may be right in some cases, and wrong in some cases, but nobody has the correct answer.

I spoke with a few advisor/agents. If a student who holds a degree can make a $50,000 starting salary after graduation, then start with 4 years of minor league time spent instead of getting that degree, or $200,000. From there you can add the CSP(College Scholarship Plan) of approximately $20,000 per year, or another $80,000. In hard dollars the initial bonus should at least be $280,000, which according to slot recommendations start in the 3^rd/4^th rounds of the draft. The hard part, especially in a quasi-negotiation is the value of the opportunity cost mentioned. This is the amount that affects signability or the fact a kid is even drafted at all. Some blue-chip and 2^nd tier high school stars make it very clear what their respective price tags are, and these are the ones who fall down the draft boards, some even fall off of them. Were these kids wrong in drawing a line in the sand? Nobody has the correct answer.

Every year, kids opt for Rookie ball at a value to the club who selects them. They may sign for what they believe is a nice bonus, and the published amount is $25,000 as an example. This 18 year old may struggle the first summer, then be assigned another season of rookie ball, and after that 2^nd season, still struggling along, turns 20 years old and trying very hard to get advanced to the A club. His counterpart in college has completed 2 seasons of baseball and will normally be entering his Junior year and will be draft eligible again. Neither kid made a right or wrong decision. They each made their own decision. What may come next is a moment in time where each individual gets a better feel about their decisions.

If we follow this example further, assume for illustration that the college player who decided to forgo being selected or wasn’t drafted at all has had a solid 2 seasons in college baseball, performed well in summer ball, and has a super solid junior baseball season. He gets drafted and the bonus is within the value the family believes is a fair investment in the player. That player has 3 years of college under his belt, 3 years of college and summer baseball under his belt, and a very good chance he will bypass Rookie league immediately and be assigned to an A ball club. The kid who took the $25,000 may start his 3^rd pro season at the same level, has minimal money left, and no progress towards a college education.

I read a recent article about the makeup of the minor leagues. The writer stated that about 50% of the estimated 6000 players in MILB are foreign born. I bring this up to make a point: The competition is fierce, and global. The game has evolved into an international one where MLB will throw anything and everything against a wall to see what sticks. They invest in player development internationally. Their INVESTMENT in you, the player, has much to do in the college versus pro decision. The higher the initial bonus, the more chances they will give you to fail.

This leads back to value each player assigns to their respective case. Getting life changing money as a 1^st or 2^nd rounder makes the decision pretty easy for those fortunate enough to have had their talents displayed and exposed early on to the decision makers in professional baseball. It’s the next tier of high school draft eligible players who may have the tougher decision. There will always be high school players drafted who choose college regardless of the bonus amount, and there will always be players who choose pro over college regardless of the bonus amount. Nobody is right or wrong.

So why is the MLB 1^st year player draft nearly 50 rounds long for most teams? Do you think teams adding 50 new players from the United States means they have released 50 players from their respective systems? Who were these talented players, and what was their signing bonus? Did they ever attend college first? Are they ready for “the real world of work”? It is said 5% of drafted players play at least one MLB game.

So is there a right answer to college versus pro? Yes, for each individual, and no, when applying the question to each draft eligible high school player as a group. It has nothing to do with whether each player wants to play pro baseball but more to do with when they want to take a shot at it.

Getting drafted out of high school is no guarantee you will be re-drafted out of college, just as much as not getting drafted out of high school means you never will be drafted out of college. The college baseball experience will be the main playing field which includes the summer wood bat leagues. They are a main feeder system to the pros. One thing is for sure: Players having this decision are very talented and will have a place to show their stuff, be it on a campus or a minor league town.

High School draft prospects need to sit down with their parents and determine what their value is. When they fill out MLB questionnaires, they will be asked about what round they feel they belong in, and how much bonus they would sign for in some cases. These are tough questions and I have heard different views from “experts”, parents, coaches, scouts, agents/advisors, and everyone in between. Just the fact that the views differ corroborates that there is no right or wrong answer.

Some say if you choose a round to be selected in, you are drawing a line and feel you may be risking being selected at all. If you choose a dollar figure, same thing. But if it is an honest answer and you believe it 100%, then you are risking nothing. If they really want you at that amount of investment, then you can conclude the feeling is mutual and the draft result will prove or disprove it.

Some advise to say nothing, or use the term “market value”. So who is the expert in assigning this market value? The player needs to determine his own market value, then choose to disclose it or keep it under family wraps. Players may be told that “if we selected you in the xth round, would you sign?” In my opinion, that is a tough question to ask a teenager and his family, unless x equals 1^st or 2^nd.  My best advice which comes from research, being a fan of baseball, and a parent with a player in the process is to learn from history.

The internet allows us all the ability to simply read about players and their travels, look at draft history and results, as well as read about the process of getting to pro baseball. Just perform a few “where are they now” searches and you can educate yourself pretty well in a general fashion. A good start is to research Pedro Alvarez (pictured left). He is a 1^st class talent and according to many, a 1^st class kid. Alvarez turned down a nice bonus out of high school, and pretty soon his decision made at that time will turn out to be a great one. Another place to get some recent history is to review some of the players who were named to several of the 2008 Division 1 freshman All-American teams. Several of those players drafted opted for college over starting pro ball, and several went undrafted because of signability. They keep playing the game, and play it at a high level, in college.

Evaluate your situation. Determine your worth. Determine your goals. Only a few high school players each year become instant millionaires. One of the greatest websites is the HSBBW. They recently had their annual thread on this topic. Follow the link and read about true experiences. Experience is the best teacher. What you will conclude is this: It is a very individual decision. There is no cookbook answer. Each of the two choices has its positives and negatives aspects. One hedges the bet with education while the other hedges it with money.

College versus Pro: The decision is personal from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules