Hey NBA, Time to Allow HS Players to Turn Pro

One of the most asked questions that people always ask is, should the NBA allow players to go from high school straight to the NBA and get rid of the one and done trend that college basketball has seen it increase since the NBA disallowed players to make the jump. Originally I was thinking the same thing. My initial thought was no you should not allow a player that young to jump to the best league in the world, against the best men in the world while they have yet to physically mature. However after watching the NBA and college game see a slow decline of basketball intelligence and a rise in isolation basketball, I think the NBA has to make the change back to allow players to go right to the NBA from high school.

My original thought was that some college would be good for these players as they could develop alongside players who were at least, close to their respective skillsets as opposed to high school where these players are routinely dominating their respective leagues and no one can stop them. They also would get to play for a college-level coach, develop a bond with a team, and be involved in a real program that can make you add mass, get bigger, get faster, and get stronger. They also would have a chance to work on their game more.

Unfortunately, what the one-year college rule has done is force kids that want nothing to do with college, to go there and for the most part not take classes seriously, worry when they play about being the best player, or drawing the most scouts, and make it tough for coaches to keep the players attention. When a player knows they are going to be a high pick and they go to school it makes it challenging because the player knows that he has a lot of money and fame coming his way and their family is telling them the same thing. It only gets worse when there is an injury or when the player isn’t feeling one hundred percent. The player chooses not to play so he won’t hurt his stock.

This one and done trend has made it tough for coaches to put a finished product on the court and has stunted the growth of players who planned to be three-year players as they are stuck behind the ultra-talented players who are leaving after the first year. Furthermore, the freshman don’t have a fully developed basketball IQ as I mentioned above, and it makes it tough for the coaches to use schemes with any complexities. And if they can’t do it at the college level, how can the NBA coaches do it?

Now you are probably reading this article wondering why I am making such a strong case against college altogether, but I think the rule that should be in place is you should allow players to jump from high school to the pros, BUT if you do go to college, there is a minimum two-year commitment that has to be made. And I honestly would not have a problem with a three-year commitment to be made. This would allow the players who feel ready to leave the ability to jump right to the NBA, and the players who want to hone their game more before they jump to the elite level, the chance to do so.

I know some people will say that this makes no sense and that leaving from high school kills careers because their bodies and minds are not ready for it. However most of the people who leave from high school have done very well. There are some examples of course of players who haven’t had the success they could have had if they had gone to college and developed their bodies more, but there have also been players such as Moses Malone, LeBron James, Al Jefferson, Monta Ellis, Josh Smith, Dwight Howard, and Kevin Garnett that have panned out as well.

Now do not get my point confused. I am not saying that everyone coming out of high school is completely ready and able to play at the highest level right away. In fact, I would say none of the players I mentioned above were ready to play right away aside from LeBron, who is one of the most gifted athletes we have ever seen. However, my point is that there is no point in forcing kids to go to college as it only impedes everyone’s progress and has, in the long run, made the game weaker.

By allowing kids to go right to the NBA, you are giving the players who actually want to go to college the chance to develop and have a chance at a longer and more sustainable career in the NBA. Now, of course, I would by lying if I said there wouldn’t be anyone who would fail or not pan out coming from high school, but if the only alternative is to take away minutes, time, and coaches attention from players who need the development and WANT to be there then you should let the other players go pro.

The college game has suffered long enough. One of the shining examples was Mercer defeating Duke in the NCAA Tournament a few years ago. Duke had better talent by a mile, but Mercer had the chemistry. They had players who knew how to play and had developed a basketball intelligence to play the scheme their coach wanted. Mercer had players who were there to develop and enjoy their years there, whereas Duke had players who just wanted to go to the next level.

The more time this one and done trend continues, the worse the level of play will be in both the NCAA and the NBA. If Adam Stern puts into effect the rule of a minimum two-year commitment in college both leagues level of play will improve. You will see fewer upsets from seeds at the 14 or 15 level and an overall better game. The NBA will see less isolation and more natural ball movement.

I know there is very little chance of this happening because the NBA teams value getting players so young so that they can develop them for themselves and the players union would never go for it as it would delay the time for some of them to get paid, but in the long run, it may be a smarter play because instead of being just a role player or an athletic freak who likes to use isolation you will see more players garner interest from teams and a second NBA contract.

The ball is in your court NBA, make the right move and allow players the right to come from high school, but demand they play two years in college otherwise. Who knows, you might like what you see.

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