Five Star Prospect Skips College And Signs $1 Million Dollar Intership Deal

Darius Bazley may have just changed the course of history with his internship deal.

The 2018 McDonald’s All-American trains independently for the 2019 NBA draft, he will earn $1 million as part of an endorsement deal with New Balance that includes a three-month internship at the Boston-based apparel company this winter, according to The New York Times’ Marc Stein. The seven-figure paycheck is guaranteed “no matter what happens” in Bazley’s career, but the 18-year-old can reportedly make as much as $14 million if he meets his performance marks on a basketball court.

Bazley, a 6-foot-8 forward from Ohio, will enter the 2019 NBA draft. Bazley is signed to Klutch Sports with the athletes like Lebron James, Ben Simmons, and Shaquon Barkley to name a few. Klutch Sports co-founder Rich Paul spoke about the historic deal.

“It’s not for everybody, so I’m not going to sit here and say anyone should follow this path,” Paul said. “This was just the right path for Darius Bazley. This is the right path for Darius Bazley and his family. It takes a collective group of people: His mom was very understanding and willing to allow me to advise them as a family. And the parents are important in this, as well. It’s not just me. The parents are very important. And you have to work together with families to help them understand why this is important.”

Paul said the college route was “the right thing” for most players.

Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim is not in the camp of allowing players to be compensated in college.

Lebron James responded to Boeheim when he committed on Bazley’s deal.