VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - Domantas Sabonis became a "one-and-done" in Europe this week.

With a year of the Euroleague and the Spanish Liga Endesa under his belt, the 2.07m forward has decided to bolt for the big arenas and bright lights of Gonzaga instead of staying on the old continent and signing a professional contract.

Yes, Sabonis has signed a letter of intent to play for the Zags.

He'll move to Spokane, Washington, to play college basketball in the United States like so many of his compatriots have.

His legendary father, Lithuanian Basketball Federation President Arvydas Sabonis, didn’t compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) but Arturas Karnisovas (Seton Hall, 1990-94), Sarunas Jasikevicius (Maryland, 1994-98), Darius Songaila (Wake Forest, 1998-2002), Linas Kleiza (Missouri, 2003-05) and Martynas Pocius (Duke, 2005-09) all did.

There are obvious pluses and minuses to this decision.

Were he to stay in Europe and turn professional, Sabonis would not only earn money but also play and practice against grown men.

In theory, he'd improve at a faster rate.

By going to the U.S., he'll learn a different style of game, perfect his English, study and also experience college life.

Who wouldn’t like to do that?

Karnisovas, Jasikevicius, Songaila, Kleiza and Pocius have enjoyed big moments with Lithuania's national team, some while collegians.

Sabonis will no doubt represent his country at World Cups or Olympic Games in the future, too.

There was some regret expressed in the announcement made by Unicaja Malaga that Sabonis was leaving.

"I want to wish him the best and thank him for the work he has done this year," coach Joan Plaza said.

"I hope that all that he has learned and what we have helped him in will serve him for this new stage in his life.

"I hope he remembers the effort, the work, the investment and the risk that has been done for him."

Plaza says he spoke to Sabonis more as a friend than a coach the past few months about the college option.

"We spoke of players that already took that decision and what circumstances he could come across," he said.

"He was honest and I asked him for the decision to be his.

"He is 17 and he would be influenced by his parents, family, friends, colleagues... it's a brave decision, more so considering those in Spain that have tried that adventure and it never worked."

Plaza holds no grudge.

"I don't feel betrayed,” he said.

"I just hope it serves him, if he plays in the NCAA, NBA, in Europe or if he comes back here. That the investment we've made with him, he assumes it."

Plaza also made it very clear that Sabonis would not have played at Unicaja had he not merited the minutes.

"As I told him a few months ago and I reiterated to him recently, what the club has given him, what I have given him as coach, is what he has deserved," he said.

"He has worked well, he has learned, he has played at the level of players that are double his age.

"He has deserved all of this and this will continue at the end of the season.”

The big winners in all of this are Gonzaga.

Coach Mark Few is getting a player who has already been in the Euroleague wars.

Don't be fooled by his paltry averages of 2.7 points and two rebounds per contest in his 19 Euroleague appearances.

Sabonis has gotten better as the season has gone on and will make Gonzaga better.

Let's hope that Gonzaga makes Sabonis better, too.

Jeff Taylor

FIBA

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