Baskets, or briefcases?

After so much success on the court, the seniors of this year's Ivy champion basketball team now find themselves headed in different directions.

While Mark Zoller and Ibrahim Jaaber still see basketball in their futures, Stephen Danley and Adam Franklin have decided to pursue other interests.

Zoller hopes to earn his living on the hardwood, and is on the waiting list for the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. If not admitted to the camp, he will have other opportunities to try for a spot on a professional team at camps in Las Vegas in May and June.

The forward recognizes that his best shot to play professionally will probably be abroad, and is more than willing to join an overseas team to continue playing.

"I feel like I might as well see the world a little bit, have fun doing something I love and get paid to do it," Zoller said. "I can't think of too many people coming out of college that have an opportunity like that to do something they love, so I guess it's almost just falling into my lap."

It will be a stark transition for the senior, who has relished his time in Philadelphia.

"To be honest it's a little bit scary, almost a culture shock," Zoller said. "You always think that you're going to be in college forever, and now to have to scurry around looking for a job . I guess it's kind of an eye-opening experience."

In contrast to Zoller's enthusiasm, two-time Ivy League Player of the Year Jaaber is not entirely satisfied with the option of playing professional basketball.

"If I got a job opportunity that paid me more and gave me more life experience than I would get playing overseas or in the NBA, I would probably take the job," Jaaber said. "But I don't see that happening."

Jaaber will have the opportunity to show off his skills to NBA scouts and agents at Portsmouth in early April.

His performance in the competition at Portsmouth will be key in determining the next stage of his career, which could include a trip to NBA training camp in Orlando or plans to head overseas.

Jaaber, the cornerstone of the Quakers for the last two years, said he will miss playing at the Palestra, but hasn't had much time to think about it. Jaaber had to resume a rigorous training schedule after Penn's first-round Tournament exit to prepare for Portsmouth.

Danley, however, has decided to end his basketball career and focus on getting a head start in the working world before attending graduate school.

Danley received a fellowship from the Americorps program that provides him with a grant toward graduate school as well as a year of work for a nonprofit company.

He has yet to be matched up with the nonprofit where he will be employed, but Neighborhood Interfaith Movement and The Enterprise Center are at the top of the senior's list.

Danley is not sure whether he would ultimately like to attend law school or graduate school for government studies, and hopes to use the extra year to determine the next stage of his life.

"I'm not sure if [working at the nonprofit] applies directly to what I want to do long term, or if it's something I'll look at down the line," Danley said. "It's more something that I'm interested in doing now, giving a year back to Philadelphia."

Franklin, like Danley, has decided to forego any efforts to play basketball professionally.

"I don't have any definite plans right now, but I'm interested in pursuing the sports-business realm or corporate finance, or maybe an investment-banking job," Franklin said. "So I'll be making some decisions in the coming weeks as to which route I will ultimately follow."

Although the seniors aren't sure of their plans, they aren't letting the uncertainty get in the way of making the most of their last weeks of school.

"I love the time I had here at Penn," Zoller said. "I couldn't have asked for a better four years."

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