Less than 4% of Division 1 college basketball players will make the NBA. This is why I prefer college basketball over the NBA. Those kids play with so much more passion, so much more love and respect for the game, and they don’t expect anything from it. A college scholarship and an education (if they want it) for some of them, maybe most of them. And sure, things have recently changed due to the whole NIL deal and allowing college athletes to get paid and sponsored. But still, the energy is much more raw and real than in the NBA where guys take games off, extend injuries and time off, don’t play much defense, flop like soccer players, all whilst being handsomely paid.
I have not watched any G-League games – essentially the Minor Leagues for the NBA, the feeder system to make it to the Big Show – but I would assume that atmosphere is somewhere in between college and the pros. It is estimated less than 5-10% of G-League players make it to the NBA. They are getting paid, not much, and they are trying to get promoted. There is still a difference between college and G-League ball; knowing your last ever opportunity to do something you love on a grand stage is approaching, and knowing that you will play another day.
Imagine college basketball with no education offered. Or the G-League/Minor Leagues with no guaranteed compensation – only performance based incentives. And as an added bonus, you are potentially losing money on entry fees into these games, plus the travel and accommodation to wherever in the globe the game is played. That is the World Surf League’s Challenger Series.
The first game of the year just ended. Opening Day. Ballito, South Africa. Some of these Minor League Journeymen are thinking this is finally their year to get called up: Jorgann Couzinet, Hiroto Ohhara, Jordan Lawler, Charly Quivront, Josh Burke, I am looking at you.
A few Rookies are trying to put their names on the map, those like: Dane Henry, Luke Tema, Taj Lindblad, Hayden Rodgers, and Dylan Wilcoxen.
Then we have a few Top Prospects looking to break through: Jarvis Earle, Dimitri Poulos, Taro Watanabe, Winter Vincent, Shion Crawford, and Levi Slawson.
A handful of these players have already been called up to the League, just to get sent back down. The Bounce Arounds are: Ian Gentil, Jacob Wilcox, Michael Rodrigues, Ian Gouveia, Imai deVault, Lucca Messinas, and Jackson Bunch.
Of course we wouldn’t have a complete picture if we didn’t have a couple of fun, heartwarming stories thrown in the mix, like: Beyrick De Vries, Luke Guinaldo, and Kei Kobayashi.
Now imagine, while these players are losing money and time and blood, sweat, and tears, a couple of Big Leaguers decide to jump in the game, just to ensure they can keep their Big League contract for next year. Joel Vaughan, Rio Waida, Luke Thompson, Oscar Berry, Jake Marshall, Callum Robson, Mateus Herdy, Eli Hanneman, Crosby Colapinto, and Cole Houshmand all decided to play Small Balls.
Last but not least, you can expect a couple of lesser known players to start to emerge as potential Big League Threats: Ryan Kainalo, Vitor Ferreira, Lennix Smith, and Connor Slijpen to name a few.
I’m leaving some names out, I know. And my apologies for it. There’s 80 damn players. And its G-League Ball; the Minors. You must forgive me. It’s early in the year, but the year is short. 5 Games in total on the CS, with only 4 of them counting (meaning your worst result will be dropped). Also adding to the confusion, one of those new International QS events can replace a CS result. Those events are worth 6,000 points, and a Challenger Series Quarter Final finish (5th place) is 4,745 points. Do with that what you will.
Imagine in his free time, Justin Verlander stepping down to pitch against Triple A players who are working to get called up. I’m not even sure the MLB allows this to happen unless the player (Verlander, in this case) is rehabbing an injury. Only about 10% of Minor League Baseball players make it to the Bigs already, why make it harder for them?
Just ask the WSL – that’s exactly what they’ve done to any surfer on the Challenger Series. And guess what? CT surfer Cole Houshman just won the first event of the year. What a shocker. A guy who has already graduated from this level, stepping back down and taking a win. Nice. This should all but guarantee his position on Tour for next year, so I really hope he doesn’t go to any more Challenger Events.
Of the 80 players (Surfers) who threw on a jersey in Ballito, 10 of them will get The Call To The Bigs (qualify for the Championship Tour). That’s 12.5%. Take that to the bank. The only question that remains is – how many of that 12.5% are Re-Qualifiers? If I am not mistaken, we’ve had at least one every year. This is a question for my guy Pedro over at Surf Stats.
So guess what is coming up next? My favorite time of the year. This is like Christmas for me: The US Open.
A week from today.
Get your sunscreen and sharpies ready.
Talk soon.
Cheers,
hwilsin
Drew Stanfield