College basketball: One-and-dones put pinch on schools they leave early

[obie7661]

Freshmen who head to NBA can cost teams a scholarship

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2008/06/25/nba_draft_apr.ART_ART_06-25-08_C1_85AJ11S.html?sid=101

[TigerCoach]

Then the NCAA should change the rules. You cannot deny a person the right to make a living and make that choice on their own, even if that person has a very small chance of succeeding.

To have a rule that says they can go "1 and out", then penalize the schools when they take that option just proves once again that the NCAA is run by morons.

[austinsm11]

To have a rule that says they can go "1 and out", then penalize the schools when they take that option just proves once again that the NCAA is run by morons.

That is really dumb. They have a rule to benefit college basketball by at least getting these high caliber players in for a year to try to make the college game better as well as help the NBA, then they turn around and penalize these colleges when the player leaves after a year. What are they thinking?

TC, if you are against the basketball rule keeping players out of the NBA for a year, are you also against the football rule keeping players out for 2 years?

[TigerCoach]

Yes, I'm against having any rules that say an athlete must attend college for any time. Like I said, you can't deny a person the right to pursue a living. But, to punish the colleges when they leave is just ridiculous!

I think athletes know when they have a chance to make it professionally, and if they fail, they need to learn from their mistakes just like the rest of the world does in their pursuit of a career. Football players know that the NFL is much more physically demanding and they need time to develop. Basketball & baseball players have an easier transition.

[austinsm11]

Football players know that the NFL is much more physically demanding and they need time to develop.

Do they? I don't really know. How many more players would turn pro for the NFL if the rule wasn't in place?

I think the problem is that there are only a few who could actually make the jump to the NBA. Players years ago seemed more realistic about their shot to make it. Now with all the prima donna's everyone thinks they can make it to the NBA straight out of high school.

The Pros are using the NCAA as a way to provide player development without putting money into it. What they should do for the NFL and NBA is get a minor league going where these kids would have a few years to develop out of high school. If an NFL team plays a certain kind of defense, they could get the guys who fit their defense out of high school and would have a few years to mold them to their system.

BTW, I know it doesn't interest you, but that is why soccer is so far behind in this country. Finally the MLS clubs are starting academies to attract and attain the best young players, like the European clubs do. The problem in the US is finding money to pay these guys like a true minor/developmental league.

[TigerCoach]

I don't think you'll ever find a football player going from high school to the NFL. Even with just 1 year of major college experience, I don't think 99.9% of any college football players would be ready for that. (There's someday going to be an exception, which is why I said 99.9%) Not only is the physical part of the game a huge difference, but the mental aspect as well.

Even guys like Maurice Clarett, who was thought of as one of the best running backs in the country in high school couldn't make it. He was laughed all the way to the airport in Denver. Look at Archie Griffin, he never really made it big with the Bengals. An NFL player is surely a special person.

[austinsm11]

I don't think you'll ever find a football player going from high school to the NFL. Even with just 1 year of major college experience, I don't think 99.9% of any college football players would be ready for that. (There's someday going to be an exception, which is why I said 99.9%) Not only is the physical part of the game a huge difference, but the mental aspect as well.

Even guys like Maurice Clarett, who was thought of as one of the best running backs in the country in high school couldn't make it. He was laughed all the way to the airport in Denver. Look at Archie Griffin, he never really made it big with the Bengals. An NFL player is surely a special person.

I completely agree that they aren't ready, but I still think that with today's prima donna's that several would try it.

I also think there are some who borderline qualify (or don't qualify) for college who would go for it.

[reofan82]

I think it is unfair to the college programs to be punished for their basketball players leaving school early. Despite a free education, schools simply cannot compete with the allure of the big money thrown at these kids. Punishing schools for players following this money doesn't even make sense. Most young people simply will not look at the value of education when millions are offered.

I think kids should be able to go into the NBA after High School, but if they do choose to go to college, they should have to stay a minimum of three years before they can be drafted. If the leave after three years, or quit school before then, schools should not be punished.