My thoughts on Darius Bazley spurning Syracuse Basketball for G-League

Darius Bazley, a 2018 five-star forward, has opted for turning pro rather than joining the Syracuse basketball outfit. Let’s wish him well.

Following the 2018 McDonald’s All-American Game, held last week at Atlanta’s Philips Arena, I have to admit that Darius Bazley impressed me.

In a contest where most of these high-school studs rarely played defense or shared the ball, Bazley did both. He hustled, he grabbed a bunch of boards, and he connected on a few jumpers.

I said to myself when this event ended that this five-star forward out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati definitely had the potential to significantly help the Syracuse basketball squad advance even further in the 2019 NCAA Tournament than it did during its most-recent – and pleasantly surprising – Sweet 16 run.

The day after the McDonald’s All-American affair, however, Bazley dropped a bombshell. A top-10 prospect in the 2018 recruiting class, Bazley revealed that he had de-committed from the Orange and would head straight to the NBA’s G League.

His decision totally floored me, along with the rest of ‘Cuse Nation, including head coach Jim Boeheim and his assistants. I’ve needed to reflect and gather my thoughts on this situation before making any grand declarations.

So now, here goes.

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First and foremost, I desire nothing but success for Bazley. While I certainly wanted to see him in a SU uniform beginning this fall, he had to do what’s best for himself and his family.

That brings me to another related point. Those Syracuse fanatics out there who are trashing this teenager, please do me a favor and cut that non-sense out.

Grow up.

We can feel bummed about the fact that Bazley will never suit up for the ‘Cuse, and perhaps he didn’t handle his communication with JB & Co. properly, but we have little to no idea about Bazley’s life, his own or his family’s finances, other personal factors, etc.

What I will add, though, is that Boeheim shouldn’t have found out about Bazley’s de-commitment for the initial instance via Twitter, if that did, in fact, occur.

I get that Bazley, in essence, is still a kid, and we all make mistakes. In my humble opinion, though, it would have proven more appropriate and respectful for him to give the Orange coaching staff a heads up.

Particularly since Bazley raved about his future SU teammates only a day or two prior to announcing his departure as a member of Syracuse’s 2018 class.

The timing of this whole thing does appear a bit perplexing to me. Bazley speaks to his excitement of getting on the court with Oshae Brissett, for example, and then bails on the ‘Cuse a short span later.

I’ve read online in several chat rooms and on message boards that Bazley reportedly made up his mind to enter the G League more than a month ago. This is pure speculation, and unsubstantiated in my view. However, if true, I’m not too happy about the process by which Bazley relied.

Regardless, I want him to crush it in the G League and get selected in the first round of next year’s NBA Draft. Why? Because, as JB has noted, Bazley is a decent young man. Plus, life’s too short to hate on someone, especially a 17-year-old trying to better his circumstance.

There are an abundance of opinions flying around the Web as to whether Bazley made the “right” move in choosing the NBA’s minor leagues over one stanza on the Hill.

For me, competing in the rugged Atlantic Coast Conference before massive crowds at the Carrier Dome with tons of television exposure, as well as having access to premier facilities, coaches and training professionals, far outweigh spending a term in the G League.

Bazley may receive a salary of up to $26,000, and I can’t criticize him for that, but he’ll also go up against much stronger and more experienced players – men, not teenage boys.

I fear that Bazley’s pick of the pros over college will hinder his career, not enhance it. I really want to get it wrong, however.

Next: Syracuse Basketball: 2017-18 Season Report Card

Like I quipped earlier, I’m not angry with Bazley for what he decided to do. I’m simply disappointed in how he decided to do it.