5-Star SF Prospect Darius Bazley Decommits from Syracuse to Play in G League

Forward Darius Bazley, one of the top recruits in the 2018 class and a former Syracuse commit, is foregoing college to play in the NBA G League next season. 

Bazley explained the thinking behind his decision to get an early start on a professional career to Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania:

“This is a life-changing decision. I put a lot of thinking into this with my mom and close circle, especially sitting down with her. It’s just like making the decision to which college you want to go to. Me and her did some talking, and I prayed on it. I talked to my high school coach, Steve, who played overseas, and then I talked to a couple of guys in the G League who have experience. Ultimately, playing professional basketball has always been my dream. It’s always going to be the dream goal, always going to be the goal until I achieve it. This is going to put me one step closer to doing so."

Bazley, 17, is a 5-star prospect and the No. 8 overall player in the 2018 class, per 247Sports. He committed to Syracuse last July, choosing the Orange over Louisville and Maryland, among others.

Bazley will be the first high-profile prospect to play in the G League instead of going to college. His decision also comes while the NCAA is mired in a federal investigation into bribery and corruption, with players having allegedly received payments from agents. 

"The G League will have the most to offer, considering that is the development league for the NBA," Bazley said. "I will get more out of that than going overseas. The G League is the closest thing to the NBA."

By jumping straight into professional basketball, Bazley will be able to earn a salary when he signs with a G League team. 

Per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, Bazley's maximum salary in the G League next season is capped at $26,000 based on the league's tiered salary structure. 

Bazley took part in Wednesday's McDonald's All-American Game in Atlanta, scoring 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds.