Jalen Green Changes College Basketball Forever

Jalen Green recently made a decision that I believe changed the landscape of college basketball forever. The 6-foot-5, 18-year old Fresno native is the No. 1 basketball recruit in the class of 2020 and was wise beyond his years in leveraging his talents.

Traditionally, a player of Green’s caliber would choose a university he felt would best prepare him for the NBA. Then, at the conclusion of his first season, he would declare for the NBA draft. Hence the “one and done” nickname players earn by doing so.

Green announced recently that he would be signing with a new NBA G-League team that is currently being built from the ground up - centered around him. Not only will he technically be in the NBA, he’s receiving a scholarship to the university of his choosing when the time comes and is expected to earn over $1 million dollars in this one season alone.

If high level basketball players can skip college, go to the G-League, earn even half of what Jalen is set to make and can go back to college for free after their careers, why wouldn’t they?

The NCAA has limited it’s players' ability to profit from their name, imagine and likeness since its inception. Recently, they decided to loosen some of those restrictions but it may be too late for men’s basketball.

Five-star recruit Isaiah Todd even decommitted from Michigan to join Green in Southern California on this upcoming G-League team. Todd and Green will both be exposed to professional coaching as well as professional competition.

Both Green and Todd are expected to be drafted in next year’s 2021 NBA Draft. Green in particular is in the discussion for being the No. 1 pick.

Green’s belief in himself will prove to shift the way college basketball operates forever, whether he has a successful year in the G-League or not. He has now opened the door for any hoopers coming after him that may want to follow suit.