Isaac
Years ago

HSH international draft announced

Interesting to see this international draft concept announced as Boti and I were talking about how the NBL could try something like this a few weeks back:

Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops Set To Attract Overseas Stars
Revolutionary 'Overseas Player Draft' Unveiled

Elite Classic Basketball (ECB) today unveiled a revolutionary ‘Overseas Player Draft’ which will see up to twenty-four high-calibre international players join the ranks of the ‘Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops’.

‘The Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops’, airing on ONE and running from April 6th to 11th at the Adelaide Dome, has already secured a star-studded cast of Team Rights Owners, Coaches, and committed players.

The Overseas Player Draft (OPD), though, is ECB’s most unique announcement yet.

The three-round OPD will see each of the 8 ECB Teams eligible to choose three players - one selection per round. Players will be flown in from international destinations, with most expected to come from the game’s spiritual home, the United States.

The first eight picks in the OPD will be determined by random chance, while the two following rounds will be determined based on the first round, giving each ECB team roughly the same quality of choice over the three rounds. Team Rights Owners will watch a simulated ‘ball drop’ program on March 3rd and make their selections once the order is decided.

Players will nominate by contacting ECB officials at [email protected]. Any interested professional international player is eligible to nominate, and the nominated players will be listed on the highstakeshoops.com website as their nominations are approved. Players must be at least 18 years of age, must have a valid passport, and have no pre-existing injuries or immigration complications in order to nominate. Players can nominate from today until midnight March 2nd.

Nominating players must be able to travel from the United States on April 2nd arriving in Adelaide on April 4th. They will return on April 12th. Players from non-US destinations will be consulted regarding alternative plans if drafted.

"This Overseas Player Draft announcement is amazingly unique. Over the last month we have been approached by a large number of overseas players looking to be involved in the Foot Locker Elite Classic event. The OPD will ensure that the spread of this international playing talent is systematic" ECB Managing Director Jeff Van Groningen said today. “With each team able to claim up to three players in the Draft, rosters will start to take on a very international, exciting feel”, Van Groningen added.

NBL Hall-of-Famer Cal Bruton, involved in the ‘Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops’, has spent recent weeks ascertaining potential interest from international players. “There are players who have played here in Australia before who would love to be a part of this. Then there are players who have heard so much about Australia who will nominate. There are recently graduated college players at that time of year, some of whom will be very, very good. And of course there will be seasoned professionals that just want to be a part of this event. Players know that this is a great concept - it’s only a week of their lives, its great television exposure on ONE, and they come and join one of the eight teams, stay at the Stamford Plaza, and have a chance to help their team win the money. What’s not to like?” Bruton stated.

‘The Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops’ continues to innovate, and has gained the support of major names in the sport.

Australian coaching legend Brian Goorjian, currently coaching in China, is one who has offered his support of the event and is impressed by today’s announcement. “The depth of talent is out there, there are just so many good players looking for an involvement at that time of the year, particularly out of the U.S. This event has captured players’ imaginations, both here and overseas, and the crowds are going to benefit. They’ll see stars they‘re familiar with, players they’ve never seen, big names, new names. I’ve said before, I really like this format”, Goorjian said today. “I’m sure Australian players want to be a part of this. International guys do too, and the Draft is a nice way to ensure a good spread of those overseas guys across the teams”, Goorjian added.

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Brian is back in town and there's going to be another announcement about this event that'll make it very interesting for te NBL

Reply #269052 | Report this post


Mr bEn  
Years ago

I think this is a lame and weak attempt to drum up support for a concept that will ultimately fail.

Reply #269072 | Report this post


hooked  
Years ago

i am looking forward to the tournament, but not sure if it's a safer option just to tune in on the Tv, rather than give up cash to see something unknown.... wonder how many others will do the same. tickets better be cheap!

Reply #269073 | Report this post


LC  
Years ago

So who are some fo the imports we would like to see - within reason! Who would help draw a crowd? Obviously guys heading to the WC's are most unlikely, and guys like LeBron and co would not even think twice. Why risk it? I would also rule out senior college players with relaistic ambitions to be drafted to the NBA. So who does that leave us with?

Here are some thoughts and ideas to kick things off...

- Starbury (currently playing in China)
- Carlos Powell (currently tearing up the NBA D-League)
- What about a Harlem Globetrotter - would their contract allow it?

Reply #269079 | Report this post


billo  
Years ago

SO do these imports get paid for this or do they just get a share of the prize purse if they're on the winning team? I guess it would be fun to be flown out and accomodated for a week, but it would also be pretty disruptive and with no guarantee of cash I'm not sure too many would be up for it. (Also, it's not exactly high stakes).

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Anonymous  
Years ago

Billo, so you are saying that if someone offered you an all expenses paid trip to the states to play basketball at the end of a season, with the possibility of seeing a new country, playing with a live telecast, making some new connections for a possible playing future, and maybe getting a bit of cash at the end of it....you wouldn't go???

I'd be in like a shot!!!!!

I can understand the guys who have a legitimate chance at the NBA or younger college students not wanting to play, but there would be hundreds of guys coming out of college basketball looking for any chance to keep playing. There are 347 schools in 32 Division I basketball conferences...........do the math!!!

Reply #269099 | Report this post


billo  
Years ago

Yeah, fair play, I guess it would depend what else was going on, whether you had a training schedule that would be impacted by two 24 hour flights within a week, family commitments, that sort of thing.

In 2007 I was offered a free 8 day trip overseas to take photos for a travel company, no pay but also no cost to me. Back then I jumped at the chance and had a ball, but now Ive got more experience I probably wouldn't do it for free.

Reply #269108 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

NBDL finishes on 3rd April, with every team playing on the 2nd or 3rd, so that would seem to rule out all of those guys.
How about guys who have finished their NBA career (not necessarily by their choice), like:-

- Bonzi Wells
- Ruben Patterson
- Isiah Rider
- Bo Outlaw.

Maybe past 36ers:-

- Willie Farley
- Julius Hodge :)

Reply #269119 | Report this post


Player23  
Years ago

I was interested to see in the Advertiser that Brett Maher's team has already picked up Forestville's import, shouldn't he be one to go into this draft?
Is this just another way for Forestville to pay him through a secondary employer?

Reply #269162 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Rod Benson - Boom Tho!

Reply #269168 | Report this post




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