Fantastic Freshmen Should Stay in College

By: Ian Wilson
Posted In: Opinion

Jump! That’s what high school coaches used to tell their best players to do when going for a basket or rebound. Jump! Since players like Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have come along, that’s what high school coaches now tell their players to do when talking about “jumping” directly from high school to the NBA.

Forget about proven talent, the word that has NBA executives drooling is potential.

With the emphasis on developmental work in college being thrown out the window, and professional teams beginning to obsess over “potential,” the shape of the draft, as well as the league has changed greatly. Between 1996 and 2005, 39 high school players skipped college to be drafted into the professional ranks. Among these players were superstars like Kobe Bryant in 1996, Tracy McGrady in 1997, and Lebron James in 2003, and believe me: These guys are about as good as it gets, and it’s fun to watch them play.

Unfortunately, for every player who makes it big, there is a player whose career has been equally, if not completely, unsuccessful. Leon Smith, DeShaun Stevenson, and Kwame Brown, who was the first high schooler ever taken as the NO. 1 overall pick, highlight the list of teenagers whose dreams quickly faded from stardom to reality upon reaching the NBA.

In an effort to eliminate high school seniors entering the draft, NBA commissioner David Stern, instated a rule in 2005 mandating one year of college or prep school before a player could enter the draft.

As a college student and avid follower of college hoops, I applaud Stern for mandating one year. Although I feel that one year is just not enough time, it’s a step in the right direction.

To criticize these kids for wanting to skip college to declare for the draft would be easier said than done. Professional teams with millions to spend are eager to sign these guys. According to InsideHoops.com, every player selected in the first round of the 2005 draft was guaranteed at least $1.4 million over the first two seasons. Aside from these guaranteed millions, major corporations from Nike to Coca Cola are willing to fork over hefty sums for young stars to push their product. Injuries also serve as a major concern for opponents of mandating college play, and for good reason. A torn ACL or broken ankle could cost a player a year of college basketball, and could scare scouts away, leading to slimmer contracts. With everything these teenagers have ever dreamed of right in front of them, it’s harder than we could imagine to say no.

That being said, these kids are a mere 17 or 18 years old, and, for the most part, not developed enough mentally or physically to endure what the professional game requires. What the year of college aims to do is simple: It gives players a year to work on their game, prepare themselves for the pros, and learn how to play in the spotlight. It helps, but a year is simply not enough time.

Yes, there are guys like LeBron, Dwight Howard, and Garnett, who are immediately ready to make an impact at the professional level. Players like these, however, are incredibly rare. Take Kobe Bryant, the poster boy for high school success in the NBA. Surfing my way through ESPN.com, which could easily be called the center of the universe for sports junkies, led me to some surprising stats in regards to Mr. Bryant. His rookie year, yes, the one right after his senior year of high school, he averaged only 15.5 minutes and less than eight points a game. If that doesn’t impress you, I hope the next line will. Elton Brand, who graduated the same year of high school as Bryant, decided to spend four years at Duke University. During his first year in the NBA he averaged 37 minutes and over 20 points a game. Coincidence? I think not.

Aside from their development as players, these athletes should embrace their free ride as a student athlete. What ever happened to the integrity of the academic process? Institutions with stellar academic reputations like Duke, North Carolina, UCLA, and Georgetown are giving these athletes the opportunity to learn, but with most time spent on basketball, one year is not enough. Once committed to the draft, students can “reduce their course load”, which means they can ditch their classes to work on basketball. Is that fair for the kids who worked their tail off in high school to get to college to see a classmate blow off an exam because he’s going to the NBA? Take Carmelo Anthony for example, who, upon deciding to enter the draft after his freshman year, withdrew from second semester classes at Syracuse in 2003.

These kids have been told by so many people how talented they are that they think making it to the league is way more important than classes. These kids should be reminded constantly that life is not all about money, but education and continuing to grow as a person.

In terms of the quality of play in the NCAA, mandating two years of college before entering the NBA would greatly increase the level of competition. This year, watching freshmen Kevin Durant of Texas, Greg Oden of Ohio State, and Chase Budinger of Arizona, all of whom would have entered last years draft, have kept me glued to my television. Spending this year in college has allowed these guys to gain big game experience and get used to national exposure.

Using this year as evidence, keeping super talents in college for two years could result in the most exciting basketball in a decade.

As these athletes get bigger, stronger, and more talented, the argument about NBA eligibility will carry on. Hopefully, the NBA and NCAA will push for two years of mandated college participation, resulting in better college and professional players. Things will eventually settle. That is, until, the next LeBron James or Kobe Bryant comes along.