Brandon Jennings, an McDonald’s All-American, and top-rated, superstar high school point guard that had committed to the University of Arizona ended two months of speculation and rumors yesterday by confirming that he will forgo the NCAA in favor of a pro career in Europe. (discuss Brandon Jennings choosing Europe over NCAA).

The 6-2 Jennings played for perennial prep school powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Virginia and signed a letter of intent with Arizona in November of 2007.  Brandon Jennings is considered by most, the top prep player of 2008.

Jennings hasn’t been shy about his intentions; it was well-known that he has been considering a year of professional basketball career instead of academia.  The 18-year old would spend a year in Europe before he would become age-eligible (19), return home, submit his name for the 2009 NBA draft, and become a NBA superstar.

Well, that’s the plan, at least.  Who knows what will happen.  Jennings, known for his throwback style as much as he is known for his skills on the court, may enjoy playing in Europe.  I know a lot of young American players that simply refuse to step off US soil for various reasons.  Mr. Jennings’ open mind, along with the NBA’s minimum age rule, has made him a trailblazer.

It was only a matter of time before an American high school player would choose this route. After David Stern and the NBA imposed their minimum-age rule before last year’s draft, high schoolers were entering the draft and giving up their college eligibility.  The minimum-age rule effectively put an end to all the high school phenoms skipping college and entering their names into the NBA draft.

The rule was also created in hopes that high school players would spend a year (or three) in college developing their skills, talent, and maturity so that they would be better-prepared for the NBA, on and off the court.  This also helped the NBA to maintain and further raise the level of play as high school players would generally take 3-5 years to adapt and develop an NBA game.

I get it, the NBA did what they thought was right.  For every Kevin Garnett, Daryl Dawkins, and LeBron James, who was ready for the NBA in his junior year, there were players like Korleone Young, DeAngelo Collins, and Lenny Cooke – players that flamed out early in the NBA but whom may have had decent careers if they spent time developing their skills in college.  And at worst, may have had a couple years worth of credits into their college degrees.

The move by Jennings will have much more far-reaching consequences than the sad faces dotting the Tucson campus.  With Jennings setting this precedent, this could be another contributing factor to the further globalization of basketball, which could eventually put an end to the NBA’s monopoly on talent.

If Brandon Jennings succeeds, whether in becoming a star player, receiving a large contract, or both, he won’t be the last high school player that jumps from their campus to packed arenas in Greece, Spain, or Italy.

When this phenomenon becomes more than a one-off situation, when 6-8 top-notch prospects are jumping to the Philippines or Russia instead of Duke or North Carolina every year, what will the NBA do with their minimum-age rule then?  What happens when the NBA can no longer count on the top American high school players sticking around, hampered by the NBA’s rule, and when the money is so tempting overseas?

Links and Sources: American Highschool star Brandon Jennings headed for Europe (Interbasket Forums), Jennings has to wait another week for SAT scores (ESPN)