Prep - To - Pro Controversy

[FilWelsh]

Despite the success of numerous high-school players drafted since 1995, the entry of high-schoolers into the NBA remains controversial—as evidenced by the league and the union agreeing to ban the practice. Many say the influx of high-schoolers into the NBA, bypassing college, has caused the collegiate game to deteriorate. Many point out that the collegiate level is useful at "filtering" out players who can dominate against weak competition in high school, but who cannot succeed at a higher level of play. Even many of the high-school players who have been successful took longer to become productive NBA stars than rookies with four years of college experience. And some question the message that skipping college sends to youth. Furthermore, unlike baseball and hockey (which accept high-schoolers without reservation), basketball has not until recently had an established farm system in which to groom young players.

On the other hand, others argue that the success of recent players demonstrates that there is no valid reason to exclude high-school players. Many professional sports (such as tennis) permit competitors who are still in high school, with little ill effect. Outside of the United States the college sports system is largely unknown and it is routine for elite professional teams in sports such as soccer and cricket to include players of college age; for example, Ronaldo and Marta were both FIFA World Player of the Year (respectively for men and women) at 20. In European basketball, Ricky Rubio made his debut in the Spanish ACB (one of the top domestic leagues outside the NBA) days before his 15th birthday and in the Euroleague at 16, and current NBA star Andrei Kirilenko made his debut in the Russian Superleague (also a top-tier European league) shortly before turning 16. Further, it is claimed by many that the NBA's alleged use of college hoops as an unpaid farm system is unfair, and that the ban on 18-year-olds entering the NBA may violate antitrust law. However, it has been established by U.S. courts that age limits are legal if part of a collective bargaining agreement. Football player Maurice Clarett lost a lawsuit against the NFL concerning this very matter on the grounds mentioned here. It is also frequently pointed out that neither a college degree, nor the academic skills needed to succeed in college, are required to play professional basketball. Consequently, some say, requiring academically marginal athletes to attend college in order to participate in professional sports benefits none of the interested parties.

Links : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prep-to-pro

[FilWelsh]

A bad NBA idea is getting schooled
By MARK KISZLA
June 11, 2009, 9:01pm

If the NBA Finals have taught us anything, it's that attending college to learn how to play basketball is somewhere between vastly overrated and downright stupid.

"I don't think going to college would have helped me," Howard said Wednesday. At age 23, Howard is convinced learning on the job in the NBA turned him into Superman quicker than eating pizza in a college dorm room. Maybe he has a point. Howard owns an Olympic gold medal, drives a Rolls-Royce and takes home an annual salary of $13.8 million to his 11,000-square-foot mansion."Well," I suggested, "you're obviously richer for being here ... ." Faster than a speeding bullet, Superman cut off my argument before the debate could start. "It's not about money," insisted Howard, a proud graduate of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, Class of 2004.It's about basketball.

The superstars playing leading roles for the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic in the Finals will soon have four NBA championship rings and no college homecoming dances between them. For the best players on Earth, a good basketball education has absolutely nothing to do with reading, writing or arithmetic. As Bryant and Howard realized as precocious teenagers but Derrick Rose and O.J. Mayo did not discover until after it was too late, college is generally a waste of time, not to mention an exercise in hypocrisy, for a bona fide hoops prodigy. Disagree?


Well here's the shocker: Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski believes the NBA's age-limit rule, which in essence requires a player to be 19 and at least one year removed from high school before becoming draft eligible, is a bad idea and a proven failure. Playing hoops in college for a single season is a silly charade that insults both the game and any school that truly values its academic integrity. Or, as Krzyzewski put it, "College should not be an extended-stay hotel."

If the high-flying, high-soaring sneakers of a freshman basketball star barely touch the ground of the university quad, then the ideal of amateur athletics can be reduced to a dirty joke as quickly as the temporary player gets his mitts on an NBA lottery ticket.

Point guard Rose led the University of Memphis to the national title game in 2008, but after quickly departing for the Chicago Bulls, he left allegations of cheating on his college entrance exam in his wake. Southern Cal coach Tim Floyd suddenly resigned this week rather than fight charges he paid $1,000 to a man who steered Mayo to the Trojans.

Remove any pretense of academic standards from college athletics and all it leaves is too much wiggle room for scandal. If a prep phenom can show solid credentials as a first-round draft choice, nothing should stop him from jumping immediately from high school to the pros.

"I think kids should be allowed to do it. Right out of high school," Krzyzewski said. "Look, I just coached a number of guys on our Olympic team who didn't go to college. So don't tell me it can't be done."

Four years ago, I applauded when the NBA introduced its minimum-age requirement, as a tool intended to improve basketball and life skills of players. The practical application, however, has made league commissioner David Stern and original supporters such as yours truly appear to be foolish idealists blind to common sense. Unless Stern can convince amateur players and their lawyers it is in the game's best interest to raise the age limit to 20, the rule should be abolished. Pronto.

"If players come to college, I think they need to be there at least two years. Otherwise, we erode the base of trust between the athletic community and the academic community," Krzyzewski said during an interview before Game 3 of the Finals.

Bryant took R&B singer Brandy Norwood to his senior prom at Lower Merion (Pa.) High in 1996, then rejected an offer to study with Coach K at Duke. Worked out OK. Of course, it helped growing up in a basketball family in which eight-year NBA player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant served as a role model."Kobe had the advantage of learning from his dad. So Kobe got great coaching, even though he didn't go to college," Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said.

Just as you can't keep a voice as big as Broadway down home in the church choir, the NBA age limit feels like a violation of the American dream.Let 'em play for pay.

"Some will say it will screw up a lot of people and players won't study or whatever," Krzyzewski said. "Well, these guys know they have to pass 'American Idol.' But if they can, I think they should go sing."

Think former USC coach Floyd wishes Mayo had never stepped on a college campus? Rose looks sweet as the NBA's reigning rookie of the year, but Memphis is left to clean up the garbage from the school's quick trip down a twisting, winding road to the Final Four.

Had he spent four years in a college library, Howard would now be an NBA rookie rather than a dominant force who has already led the Magic to two division titles and can boast of three all-star appearances on his resume.

"Not saying that college is bad; it's very good. But I think for me and what I want to accomplish, it just wasn't for me," Howard said.

Only a fool would argue with Superman. (NYT: The Denver Post)

Links : http://www.mb.com.ph/node/203783

[FilWelsh]

I have some reservations on these age limit rules for players to turn pro. My point is if a particular player is good enough for his age he should go to the next level rather than regressed by playing with his co-horts. Likewise, if a high school basketball sensation is good enough why restrict him to play professionally when a far better challenge awaits him on the higher level.

It's boys playing against men. . .European players has so much success on these. Let me cite Petrovic, Sabonis, Nowitzki and lately Ricky Rubio. They start their pro careers early in their teens. They did it because there are no more challenge on them if they stay with their age-group level.

The same with Kobe, LeBron and Howard. I think if they went to college, they will not as phenomenal, dominating as they are now. . .

In saying these, i'm on this idea if that particular player is exceptional enough to play professionally however if his skills is just average and can't be considered as hoops prodigy better go to college and get a diploma.

[Dtown]

I agree with you on just about everything except the mention of the NFL, that's a completely different world as kids out of high school just don't have the bodies for the NFL yet and it can be quite dangerous.

Still I won't belittle the NBA, their hearts were in the right place, and the truth is the vast majority of players could use either a few years in college, developmental league, and Europe. That for those of a higher class your kids that could be a first round pick out of high school, it's really just a big waste of time.

[b3lowzro]

Maybe they could adapt a D-League style where a player can play in a team while studying in college, think of it as a part time job. When they finally earn their college degree maybe (or certain number of units) they could jump into the NBA.

You can compare it to the Junior teams in Europe.

[pepman]

I guess some HS prospect need to finish college instead, I am against Prep to Pro actually. Why? Because most US kids, as I observed, some of them do not really study that much, I mean they do not really deal with those seriously.

[alermac]

Part of the problem lies on the lobbying by NCAA powerhouses, because those top colleges are the ones that profit the most by forcing top young stars to play for them for a year or two.

And it's clear that NBA teams are better served (financially and marketing-wise) by drafting college players who are already famous for playing on the NCAA, than high-school kids that usually aren't so well known.

[LordOfLeyte]

All indications point towards the "Farming System" just like Major League Baseball. I could be wrong though. (Hypothetically speaking)

[FilWelsh]

For players whose skills approximate that of Lebron and Ricky Rubio, going to college is just a waste of time. . . Personally, i believe if Lebron and Dwight Howard had decided to go college their game would not be the same as they have today. . .Their development will surely be hampered by academic requirements thereby regressing their skills. . . If you are exceptional enough why go to college???

[Dtown]

For players whose skills approximate that of Lebron and Ricky Rubio, going to college is just a waste of time. . . Personally, i believe if Lebron and Dwight Howard had decided to go college their game would not be the same as they have today. . .Their development will surely be hampered by academic requirements thereby regressing their skills. . . If you are exceptional enough why go to college???

I don't know about Dwight, he has some clear flaws in his game, that said that doesn't mean college would have done anything to fix them.