Unexpected Decision
A source within the basketball program said today that Tim Floyd and others were stunned Wednesday that Daniel Hackett turned pro. Maybe they were just surprised he signed with an agent. But they could not be surprised he left.
More than a year ago, I wrote he considered going to Italy. And last summer I heard he wanted to leave USC as quickly as possible. Why he would sign with an agent before testing his stock must mean he's pretty comfortable with the idea of playing in Italy.
If he's going to play in Italy, why not wait and get his degree?
Could it be that Hacket just doesn't enjoy playing for free with individuals he seems to always be fighting with???
I think he is sick and tried of getting beat-up and playing to many mins. in a crappy offense he really isn't getting any better than his freshman year.
Cessando di essere pazzo, diventò stupido!
This is no surprise, at least to me, or anybody else that was reading his quotes lately.
He said he could not wait to test his mettle against the best.
He also might have looked at next year's lineup and figured that he might not play much. With Lewis a fixture at a shooting guard, and some kids coming in with true point guard experience, our favorite son Daniel might have computed it was time to move on.
And, as stated in another post, he stands to make $1 million over the next 5-years even in an Italian league. That is not chump change, especially if you are 21 years old in a terrible world economy.
I have to agree with LJ.
Playing in Europe is a perfectly acceptable option. The money is decent, he speaks the language fluently, and another may help USC, but it's isn't apparent it would help him in any way vis-a-vis the NBA.
I'm not aware, however, of any true point guard recruit that is going to come and knock Hackett out of the starting line-up. He is by far the team's best on-the-ball defender, he knows the offense and the players. He was also the spark plug for SC's Pac-10 Tournament performance and the victory over BC. I think he played every minute of the Pac 10 and NCASA tourrnament game.