gain from stronger and deeper draft
classes, allowing teams to build
foundations on proven experience
rather than budding, albeit precari-
ous talent. For every argument there
are the success stories, players such
as Tim Duncan and Brandon Roy
who benefited tremendously from the
productivity and law-abiding behav-
ior of college life. NCAA President
Dr. Myles Brand strongly supports
David Stern's rule, believing that
college profoundly and positively
impacts young men such as Kevin
Durant and Greg Oden. New York
Times reporter Pete Thamel recently
discussed the struggles and doubts
of prodigies and sensations not in
college, suggesting that "[they] are
so naïve and immature, so enamored
in their vast potential, [they] have not
yet developed the work ethic neces-
sary to tap into it." Although many
players and their families may feel
waves of disenchantment and irrita-
tion, the college game can't help but
feel as if this batch of elite players
is a heaven-sent package--gift-
wrapped and ready to ball. Kentucky
Coach John Calipari capitalized on
the flow of "one-and-done" talent
to mightily lead his team into the
Promised Land. Seeing the players
as good enough for the college game
to begin with, Calipari collects his
nucleus of potent warriors, preparing
the selected likes of Derrick Rose,
Tyreke Evans, and now John Wall
for future supremacy, and, for the
time being, to his advantage. This
invaluable college experience steers
players towards eminent careers and
cushions athletic failures with the
gift of education and the background
for alternative careers.
While this rule may prove ef-
fective and beneficial for the masses,
it can prevent success by prolonging
an inevitable outcome, and maximiz-
ing the potential for injury and col-
lapse. Forcing prep scene phenoms
to step away from the game may help
sustain their poverty stricken situa-
tions and foil their chances to rake
in millions. "One-and done" players
can easily party their way through
college, required to earn only two
D's and can cruise leisurely for a
year, neglecting their education and
bolting when their name is called.
Players such as Brandon Jennings, so
confident in his astounding abilities,
scoffed at the appeal of college and
spent a year abroad, physically pre-
paring for the challenge of the NBA
while amplifying his bankroll. Jer-
emy Tyler, painfully aware of Stern's
enforced evaluation, decided to dash
away from the mere child play of his
junior year, signing to play in Israel
for the next two years instead. Fifty-
three high schoolers have made the
enormous leap from grade school to
the NBA, yet they have been ushered
in and met with remarkable success
and fortune. Out of these 53 play-
ers, there have been an astounding
collection of 5 prestigious MVP
awards and an astonishing 30 All
Star Selections. The deified likes of
Moses Malone, Kevin Garnett, Kobe
Bryant, and LeBron James have
not only paved the way for the next
generations, but conquered the NBA
with blazing magnificence and bril-
liance. In fact, a study compared the
statistics of five premier basketball
colleges--Duke, North Carolina,
UCLA, Kentucky, and Kansas--to
those of high school graduates, only
to find that players drafted out of
12th grade averaged more points,
rebounds, and blocks than players
from these distinguished colleges.
While Stern may be look-
ing out for the unavoidable failures
and promoting the general welfare
of the game, maybe this life defin-
ing decision should be left for the
that player--believing he is worthy
of evolving into a basketball divin-
ity and joining the ranks of the elite
STUDENT-ATHLETES
continued from page 1
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