I’ve been working hard on getting the newest season Pro Team Contacts 2009/10. Basketball teams overseas address, logo, telephone, address, fax and website information available.

It should be complete by the end of the week.

Current Country Contacts Updated:

• Brazil Men
• Austria Men & Women
• Italy Men & Women
• Germany Men & Women
• Ireland Men & Women
• England
• France Pro A
• Spain Women
• England Men & Women
• Switzerland Men & Women
• Germany Men & Women
• Finland Men & Women
• Netherlands Men
• Sweden Men & Women
• Ukraine Men & Women
• Portugal Men
• Norway Women & (Men soon)
• Greece Men
• Poland Men & Women
• Serbia Men & Women
• Turkey Women

Basketball overseas contacts to be completed: Norway Men, Portugal Women, Spain Men, ACB Spain, Slovania Men, Russia Men & Women, Latvia Men & Women, Scotland, Czech Republic, NBA, WNBA, Australian Leagues and more!!!

Just after writing about Brandon Jennings success in Europe more high school players are opting or looking at the option to play pro basketball in Europe instead of attending college. Jeremy Tyler is another high school sensation who is planning his new season abroad in Europe to make himself eligible for the 2011 NBA Draft. There are pros and cons to this option.. I think it all depends on the individual, however some say that college is not for everyone. This is true, however playing a professional sport is not always guaranteed for the rest of your life.

I personally get a lot of questions from high school players who want to for seek a Europe pro contract. If that is what you want you will need to be the following

• Extremely well known player (basically a top recruit)
• Helped your team to titles or state championships
• A well known basketball agent
• Played in front of European coaches in tournaments in Europe (helps a lot)

What do you think??

Now that March Madness and the NCAA Championships are over, the winner of the Hops Shoe Contest has been selected.  Thanks for all 32 contestants however, only one was chosen.

The winner is:  arokoyoadeyinka [@] yahoo.com – “This sneakers are good and fine,am thinking how it will look on me when i put it on…….i will like the blue hops sneaker…..i will like to wear it to my coming game,i will happy if i become the winner…”

Please reply to this post as the winner and you will be contacted regarding shipping address, shoe size and the shoe that you prefer.

Thanks again for all who participated!

Both Men and Women NCAA Finals was a true blow out! But very nice to see two teams play great team basketball. Congrats to UNC and UCONN for great basketball and especially UCONN making it three perfect championship seasons under coach Geno Auriemma.

Basketball season for high school and college is basically over. There are only a hand full of players that are still playing in the NCAA Tournament. So now whats next? The spring is crucial for you, no matter what level you are. If you’re in high school and you’re a decent player, which university will you be attending and how will you get ready for the new season? If you’re not going to play in college than have you decided will you still stick with basketball? College graduates who want to further their career as a professional basketball player or a basketball coach, you should have been researching and applying yourself in the fall. In any case, the new website AfterBasketball.com can help you with the most popular questions and information for anyone who wants to continue their career with basketball.

You can search for Basketball Jobs and Basketball Careers as well as other programs that may interest you. If basketball is your life, be sure that you’re knowledgeable of all of the options that you may have.

Good luck and work hard but smart!

My friend Sean McCaw, a former professional basketball player and coach in Germany and now a professional basketball Scout for the Science City Jena Basketball Club in Germany wants to give away a BRAND NEW shiny pair of Hops sneakers. You’ve probably never heard of this brand yet, so here is a little background info.

Hops Sportswear Ltd is a family owned Business based in Melbourne Australia. 2 years in the making this original brand was dreamt up in New Zealand, developed in Australia, designed in Italy and built in China. Hops was launched in November 2007. They have their own patented ‘Medial Wing’ technology that provides optimum stability throughout the light weight HOPS product, without taking away from the strength and durability of Hops footwear. Hops is now available in all of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada in the USA.

“We are passionate about providing great product at the right price point. Whilst continuing to develop bigger and better lines of footwear tailored to the basketball marketplace. With ongoing original designs and functionality to our product we look forward with much anticipation the challenge ahead of  becoming an established maker of basketball specific footwear.”

View the Hops Collection below

I have not tried them yet, but they look so comfortable. I wish I could enter the contest! So do you want in?

March Madness Hops Sneaker Contest Rules

Contest Start: March 26th, 2009

Contest End: April 8th, 2009

The winner will be drawn on April 8th, 2009.

How to Enter:

1. You earn one entry by simply making a comment to this post/contest. (write a comment of which HOP shoe you like the most)

The winner will be selected on April 8th 2009. The winner will be announced on Basketball Overseas and in the newsletter. So please subscribe to our newsletter to enter the contest and find out if you’ve won!

The winner has 3 days to confirm by contacting me. Please have ready your address and shoe size.  If the first winner does not confirm or contact me, another contestant will be chosen.

This is a worldwide contest and the shoes can be sent to anywhere in the world!

Good luck!!

“Hey sneaker heads. Just want to tell you a little bit about Hops. I love my Hops and I had a few pairs before I started working with the company. They are VERY stable and I especially like how they look. I am not the tech wiz, as a player, its just important for me that they fit well and they look good haha. Hops fills all those criteria for me. If you have any questions please feel free to visit our homepage on www.hopsportswear.de or find us on Facebook and Myspace and write me. Thanks for taking interest in Hops and I know the lucky winner will be satisfied! - Sean“

I get this question all of the time and honestly its a difficult question. Personally I think and know that anything is possible these days depending on talent and who you know. In the case of Brandon Jennings a player that I recently discovered is doing what many high school seniors would love to do after graduating from high school and that is straight pro. The NBA in recent years has made it difficult for high school players to come out directly to the NBA, however there is no restriction for the overseas market.

Brandon Jennings may be only 19 years old, but he has the mindset and playing skills of a potential Hall of Famer. Jennings a 6-2, 165 pound All American point guard that played his junior and senior years at Oak Hill Academy, located in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. Oak Hill Academy has produced many of the NBA’s greatest players such as Carmelo Anthony, Rod Strickland, Jerry Stackhouse and many more players that made a name for themselves on the pro level. Jennings a native of Los Angeles, California is one of the greatest point guards in the game since Allen Iverson made his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jennings is known for his flashy style of play that includes excellent passing skills and the ability to score on many defenses. In high school Jennings averaged 38.7 points, 11.5 assists, 8.1 rebounds and 13.0 steals per game in his senior year at Oak Hill Academy. Jennings has many awards under his belt such as the Naismith National High School Player of the Year, EA Sports Player of the Year and the Gatorade Player of the Year. Jennings had narrowed his college choices down to two schools, The University of Southern California and Arizona. However Jennings opted out of going to college he decided to become the first player out of high school to jump to play professional basketball overseas.

The 2008 #1 high school player in the United States transition from high school to professional international play

He is currently playing in Italy for Lottomatica Roma in the Italian Basketball League. Jennings decided that he will play international basketball for a year and then enter the NBA Draft the follwing year. Jennings has received endorsement deals from major companies such as Under Armour Jenning is noted to be in the top 10 players to be selected at the 2009 NBA Draft being held June 25, 2009 at New York’s world reknown area, Madison Square Garden.  So for videos and more on Brandon Jennings look below