As we all know this is the slow time of the year for sports, so I thought I'd throw out a question for debate, just to pass the time.

So I was browsing Rivals.com and came a across a story about 2008 5-star point guard prospect Brandon Jennings.  Jennings has committed to play at Arizona next year, but is waiting on final grades to see if he'll be eligible.  The story goes on to say that if declared ineligible Jennings plans on going to Europe to play for a year then declaring for the draft.  The story then eludes to the fact that even if he is academically eligible Jennings is considering going to Europe anyway.

Rivals Link

This story floods my mind with questions.  Why don't the top high school seniors in the country just go and get paid to play for a team in Europe for a year then enter the draft?  Isn't is better for them to get to focus on nothing but improving their games for the League rather than go to college and worry about school, dumb NCAA regulations, limited practice time, etc?  And if you're a freshman or sophomore in high school who's aiming to play in the League, why not move to Europe and start playing professionally over there at 15 and 16 to get ready like the Euro kids do?  Would a Euro-type pro league with no age limits that would serve as a "farm league" to the NBA work in the US?

I love college hoops as much as anyone and want to see it thrive, but with the age rule forcing kids to masquerade as college students for a year the game is hurting.  It seems to me the prospect of playing professionally overseas to prepare for the draft is infinitely greater than playing at a college for a year getting paid with a scholarship I'd never end up using.  Will that become the new trend?

Just wanted to see what y'all thought.