Zona Zealots
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Arizona Basketball: Terrance Ferguson vs. College Basketball

By Kevin Jiang

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March 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller reacts against the Oregon Ducks during the second half in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Conference tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Ducks defeated the Wildcats 95-89. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller reacts against the Oregon Ducks during the second half in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Conference tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Ducks defeated the Wildcats 95-89. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

The Decision

In late June, Ferguson informed Coach Miller of his intention to play overseas instead of becoming a Wildcat. For many Arizona fans out there, this story brings back shades of Brandon Jennings, a New York Knick and Oak Hill Academy product who became the first American to skip college to play professional basketball in Europe, thus spurning legendary coach Lute Olson and his Wildcats program.

However, since Jennings, there have been a number of prep stars and high school athletes that have chosen to play overseas instead of enrolling in college for one season. Success stories like Emmanuel Mudiay and Thon Maker, players who were both selected in the lottery rounds of the 2015 and 2016 NBA Drafts, respectively, maintained their high draft stock while playing one year of professional basketball abroad rather than playing at the collegiate level stateside while receiving no financial benefits for the NCAA.

Mudiay, in particular, served as an example for Ferguson, which he cites in his Player’s Tribune announcement.

Next: Ferguson's Immediate Future

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