1. Colleges and universities all over the country are now faced with the "one and done" rule. Coaches are criticized for recruiting these players that are likely to leave their program after just one season, adding no level of academic integrity toward the school's program. On the contrary, coaches are criticized for not recruiting players that are not going to be a part of their program for more than one season. The dilemma goes both ways.
It is clearly hard to win a national title with a group full of freshman. Just ask John Calipari. However, coaches are scrutinized daily due to the insistent perception from fans and boards members of: What have you done for me lately? Coaches simply do not have the time that they used to have to build a team up. So they are forced with a decision. Do I recruit these one and done players that are at the top of their high school class? Or do I recruit players that I know will be here into the future and risk a few "down" years? Its a difficult decision. Just ask Ben Howland at UCLA.
2. There are many high school players that have had success going to the NBA straight out of high school: Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard. The list goes on. There are plenty of players that would prefer to head to the NBA draft because they feel as if there stock could be higher out of high school, than after a year of college. Here are a few examples:
--B.J. Mullens. He wanted to go the NBA straight out of high school. He felt that with his "high school hype", he would've been drafted higher than he was after attending Ohio State for one year. "I probably would have been a higher pick (in 2008) because of the hype I had coming out of high school,” Mullens said. “But college helped me a lot. I’m kind of glad the rule was in because I got to be on campus and experience college life and make great friends." (Quote per the Columbus Dispatch)
--Brandan Wright. He was drafted 8th overall in the 2007 NBA draft after averaging 14.7 PPG, 6.2 boards and 1.8 swats per game at North Carolina. Wright has been plagued by injuries since he arrived on the NBA scene preventing him from reaching his full potential. However, Wright was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Tennessee 3 times, something that no one else had ever accomplished. He also won four state titles at Brentwood Academy, and was the #1 Power Forward in the 2006 class by Rivals.com. Its safe to say that he could have benefited coming straight out of high school.
Here is my two cents on the NBA draft. Players that want to go straight out of high school should be allowed to go. No question. Bill Walker, a former one and done player out of Kansas State, had this to say about the NBA draft restrictions. "I’m against it. I don’t see why you have to be 19 to play a game of basketball when you can be 18 and go to war for our country and die. It’s ridiculous.” (Quote per NBA.com)
Lets not get crazy. I think what Walker has said is a little bit out there, but is not necessarily incorrect. The rule hurts players that need to get money as soon as possible. A lot of players grow up in poor parts of the country and need to get to the NBA to help support their families. However, going to college does allow a player time to develop and iron out the parts of their game that need to be improved. Both sides have valid points.
The problem that I have with the rule is that college coaches face scrutiny when players leave their program early for the draft which is not right. In 2005, the NCAA created the APR (Academic Progress Rate) to judge how well student-athletes at a certain program are progressing toward graduation. If a player declares for the draft prior to the April 10th deadline set by the NCAA, the program's APR rating is not penalized. However, if a player declares after the NCAA's date, and focuses on the NBA's deadline, which isn't until late April, the school is penalized and their APR score plummets. Penalties are then likely assessed.
This happened to Ohio State when Greg Oden and Kosta Koufos dropped out of school after the NCAA's deadline. Ohio State was forced to vacate two scholarships because of the date that these players withdrew from the school, lowering the programs APR rating. Its safe to say Thad Matta wasn't pleased. Matta has seen 5 freshman leave for the NBA draft early since 2007.
Thats the issue. Schools are being punished because of the one and done rule and because of the fact that student-athletes aren't made fully aware of the APR system. But thats a different issue. The NBA needs to change the rule. Plain and simple. Allow players to enter the draft straight out of high school or make them stay in college for at least 3 years, like the NFL. One or the other would work. College football programs don't go through this and college basketball programs shouldn't have to. Yes, I'm looking at you David Stern. It's time to step up and make a change.
--GM
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