There is a new sheriff in the NCAA as the University of Washington’s Mark Emmert will be replacing the late Myles Brand as president of the organization. In a lot of ways, Emmert’s reign is going to be a lot of “more of the same” as he does not seem that interested in doing anything to initiate a NCAA football playoff decision. But recently, he has taken on the topics of the “”one and dones” and it has raised a healthy debate.
Emmert favors the baseball style approach to the pros, meaning that players would be free to pursue the NBA out of high school, but if they make that college commitment, they are a “three and done”:
"“I much prefer the baseball model, for example, that allows a young person if they want to go play professional baseball, they can do it right out of high school, but once they start college they’ve got to play for three years or until they’re 21,” Emmert, who is leaving the University of Washington to take the helm of the NCAA, said in the interview. “I like that a good deal. “But what you have to also recognize is that rule isn’t an NCAA rule,” Emmert said during KJR’s interview. “That’s a rule of the NBA. And it’s not the NBA itself, but the NBA Players Association. So to change that rule will require me and others working with the NBA, working with the players association.”"
In theory, this sounds like a good idea. In theory. But the idea of the head of the NCAA working with the NBA Players Association does not seem to be a good idea. If the NBA had their way, the NCAA would be a glorified NBA “D-League” and players could be called up mid-season if their NBA teams needed them. Or immediately after the college season. Maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but I don’t think for a moment that the NBA has the interest of the student athlete at mind.
Which is fine with me. I love the NBA and see it as what it is. But for Emmert to get involved with the NBA and work on a plan that will benefit both parties equally? let’s say I am skeptical. This whole Isiah Thomas saga is fueling my cynicism.
And if I am familiar with the baseball draft, doesn’t it allow the players to be drafted first and then see where they are selected before making that college decision? Obviously, this is not going to happen with the NCAA/NBA situation. It would be total anarchy for recruiting and would have even more agent/high school contact than there is now.
I have to say in theory, I like Emmert’s proposal, yet I do not see it as possible. There are too many kids that if it the NBA draft was opened up for high schoolers again, would decide to take that leap. And I would think that a good portion of the kids that were not assured of being an sure fire NBA player, may bolt to Europe for a year and try their luck next year rather than sit through three college seasons.
The fine folks over at Rush the Court have opined on the situation and come out with a lengthy (but a good read) piece on the situation and their dislike to Emmert’s plan. Here are a few of the arguments the RTC piece provides:
The NBA doesn’t care about college basketball’s opinion, anyway. It created the one-and-done system to help its teams stop drafting unproven talent. It likes this new system. It isn’t liable to change it, nor is the NBA Players Association.
Even if you ignore the NBA reality and simply discuss what’s best for college hoops, it’s still a bad idea. The NCAA needs star power to lure casual fans, and one-and-done players do that. Casual fans equal money. The NCAA needs money.
Before the one-and-done rule, coaches spent lots of time recruiting elite prospects only to learn at the 11th hour those prospects intended to take their talents to South Beach to the NBA. Such coaches were left in a recruiting lurch.
“For better or worse, NCAA basketball is the NBA’s minor league.” Meaning: The NBA doesn’t have a minor-league system comparable to the MLB’s, so the best way for players to develop — and the best way for the NCAA president to ensure the best interests of those players — is by playing, if only for a year, at the college level.
There is a lot of work and debate to be done on this NBA/NCAA issue and I don’t think that there is going to be any good decision made, allowing the one and dones to continue. Personally, I think the best solution will be to have the NBA move the early entry requirement up a year and make it a requirement that any player that is a two and done have at least an associates degree to show for their two years in college. At least the players would have something to show for their time at school and it will provide some stability in the recruiting game and give John Calipari a bit of a rest by having these studs around for two seasons.
From all indications, it appears that David Stern is in favor of a “two and done“ rule as well, but it is unlikely the NBA players association will approve it. All I can say is if the age limit for the NBA is raised to 20, the new Rupp Arena needs to double it’s space for championship banners and John Calipari needs to give serious though to coaching until he is 70.
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