Comments on: Two-and-Through: Comparing Derrick Williams to Arizona’s other NBA draft early entrants

By: Carlos J. M.

Carlos J. M. — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 06:46:47 +0000

We’ve all heard of high school baseball players going pro only to a few years later come back to the amatuer ranks and play college football, for example. This no doubt is different for basketball and football because they have built-in safeguards making it impossible for a kid to go pro right away. My question then, I guess, is do you guys think this clause for HS baseball players is working for all concerned?

It certainly seems to be working for the player, pro baseball team and new college team for this one-time baseball player who’s had a change of heart and sport. Why not let basketball and football high schoolers, and one-and-done scholar ballers of the college kind, try something similar? I would give it the twist that if things don’t work out in the pros right out of HS, or in their first year in the league after their freshman year in college, these cagers and gridders be allowed to come back home (or go elsewhere), enroll in college and use that pro money to play ball at the school of their choice. That way no one’s kidding no one. And besides, ain’t that more like life in the big city, really?

By: Scott Terrell

Scott Terrell — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 05:48:47 +0000

I completely agree that the current NCAA/NBA system isn’t working. I like the baseball draft rules. You can go pro right out of high school but you start in the minor leagues and ride buses while you work your way up. Or, you can go play college baseball but you’re not eligible to be drafted again until after 3 years (I’d even settle for 2 years in basketball).
Let the kids who want to earn a living earn a living but allow the college programs to build continuity with the kids who do show up on campus.

By: Jim Bodkins

Jim Bodkins — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:41:36 +0000

Ooh, I just noticed that my posts are being moderated.

Last post.

By: Jim Bodkins

Jim Bodkins — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:39:11 +0000

I’m not complaining about Williams. I’m commenting that players in high school commonly are gypsies. I dont know their histories – maybe the author does. It may be that players that travel a lot prior to college will continue that trend in college.

Consider Turner as an example. Or S. Johnson.

Williams was connected in some way to Memphis also. I dont know his high school history, so I dont know if this was happenstance in his case or part of a larger trend. (It doesnt make him a bad guy either way) His goal wasnt college. It was the NBA.

I would like to know more about the histories of early exits to better understand what to expect from incoming recruits.

Professional sports abide by agreements with the NCAA. At this point there arent any agreements – to my knowledge – between the NCAA and NBA. The NBA couldnt afford to develop players the way the NCAA does. That is why they would abide by an agreement with the NCAA.

All business is about profit. That doesnt make it a good thing.

The current system is ambivalent. It needs to make up its mind. Semi-pro … which it isnt now … or amateur … which it also isnt now. (All players are students at this point but very few are academics. All players can play but very few are professional caliber).

The disruption in college of early exits and transfers is self evident. I’m sure it is an order of magnitude worse in high school. I”m not on a mission. But I would like to understand this a little better.

By: augie

augie — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:01:16 +0000

As for Williams commitment to USC and breaking it, how is that relevant? What was invested by USC? Their program was identified by the NCAAs as rotten, that was their fault, not his.
The NBA and all other professional sports is all about generating revenue. Why would they ban good talent that will help them in their efforts?
The real solution the NCAAs should consider is creating a 2/4 year student athlete scholarship the same way military ROTCs have. a 2 year scholarship is a binding legal commitment and if they break it, they are financially responsible for that scholarship. The flip side to that, if they are awarded a 2 year scholarship and fail to meet the program’s standard such as GPA, disciplinary, or (sarcastically) FT%/missed field goals), a renewal of their scholarship is denied.
I’m just saying

By: Jim Bodkins

Jim Bodkins — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:42:04 +0000

A comment first.

Either its semi-pro and people can play where they choose … or its student athletics.

If its semi-pro, the NCAA must eliminate the requirements on transfers. No sitting out a season and transfer as often as you like. Want an agent in college? … get one. In the pros and didnt exhaust eligibility and want to finish your degree? … go back to college. And allow professional – ala the olympics – athletes in college. If it applies to a business student it should apply to a basketball student.

How about student athletes? They should be blocked from professional play for the term of eligibility.

As to Williams – I have a better question … how many of the early exits attended multiple schools, multiple aau teams, multiple colleges prior to leaving college early. That is, how stable was the player. Williams committed to multiple colleges. Did he attend multiple highschools, aau teams etc? How does this apply to the othes.

Eliot for example seemed to be stable from highschool through college and didnt leave early. I believe Kerr was the same.

Is there a connection? We may see a players future in his past.

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