It’s easy for non-coronavirus news to fly under the radar these days, but something happened last week that could end up having a HUGE impact on the future of professional and collegiate athletics — in an exceptionally GOOD way.
The naysayers are calling it “the death of college basketball.”
Nonsense.
That is, unless you’re only interested it what will best benefit Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and the rest of college basketball mercenary programs.
This change will not harm the overall college game one bit. In fact, it will improve it by leaps and bounds.
Here’s what’s happening: For the first time since the failure known as the “one-and-done” rule was put into effect by the NBA prior to their 2006 draft, a top high school basketball prospect is going to skip college basketball and go directly into the pros…sort of. He’s going to get paid to play, that much we know.
Jalen Green is a 6’6” guard out of Napa, California. Coming out of high school, he had his pick of multiple top college basketball programs that wanted his services – at least for one season. He was reportedly headed for Memphis, but instead opted for ‘d) none of the above.’
He decided to take advantage of a relatively new and very long overdue program that allows a select number of high school grads the opportunity to choose to sign a “G-League Select Contract” for a reported $125,000 and begin playing in the NBA’s defacto minor league immediately. No pretend college student/one-and-done charade for this kid.
In Green’s case, the league will not send him directly into G-League competition. Rather, he’ll start out in a developmental group that plays exhibition games against G-League teams, national teams and teams involved with the NBA world-wide academies. He’s going to earn a reported half-million dollars to advance his career this way…a nice paycheck and no pressure to start with. AND…the program reportedly will provide a college scholarship to any player who decides he wants to pursue a college education.
In baseball terms, Green will remain in what would be called “extended spring training” until it’s deemed that he’s ready to play in games that count.
This is actually a brilliant plan.
Reportedly, there are several other top high school hoopsters who are planning to follow Green’s footstep, including former Michigan recruit Isaiah Todd. If they would have been attending college simply to play a single season and not to try to earn a degree, then why wouldn’t they go this route instead?
NBA commish Adam Silver – after taking a charge from several top high school players the previous couple of years (like LaMelo Ball) who had opted to skip one year of college and go overseas to play until they were eligible for the NBA draft – has seen the light. He’s ready to endorse a developmental system for young players with NBA potential who aren’t interested in college but who aren’t ready for the big time just yet.
Sound familiar baseball fans?
In other words, this is the first step toward the creation of a full scale NBA minor league development system that could give basketball players the same options as baseball and hockey players have – choose to sign a professional contract and get paid after high school, or choose to become a student athlete (hopefully for three full seasons, but we’ll see about that) and commit to a college program – classes, homework and all – for more than a semester.
Of course, there are cries about “the death of college basketball” coming from all sorts of place now. Many misguided souls seem to think that having a handful of elite prospects choose to turn pro rather than become college players for a single season is somehow going to ruin the game by taking away the elite talent.
Actually, it’s just the opposite. Apparently, these folks haven’t noticed that college baseball and college hockey are doing just fine without having to deal with the drama of “one and done” and “pay the players.” Losing “elite” talent to the pro ranks hasn’t lessened the competition between student-athletes nor dampened the enthusiasm of fans and alums.
There are more than enough young basketball players around to stock an NBA developmental league AND college basketball programs. Some kids don’t desire a college education. They want a paycheck right now. That’s fine. Leave the college scholarships for those who want to go to college.
This will benefit the NBA by having young players more developed and “game ready” when they reach the top level. And even more importantly, it will help college programs recruit players and build up teams and programs that aren’t in need of a complete overhaul after every single season.
So despite cries to the contrary, NCAA hoops will not suffer one bit. Fans and alums will continue to loudly support whoever is wearing their school colors. The name on the front of the jersey remains WAY more important to college basketball fans than the name on the back.
That. Will. Not. Change.
And just as importantly, this will help the NCAA get out of the “pay the players” debate. If the players get to decide whether they want to get an immediate paycheck OR do some homework first, then they’ll have no grounds to turn around and demand that the NCAA needs to pay them.
During a time when we need all the good news we can get, this is a ‘Win-Win-WIN” for the NBA, for the NCAA, and for the players.
Listen to Mark Knudson on Monday’s at 12:30 with Brady Hull on AM 1310 KFKA and on Saturday mornings on “Klahr and Kompany” on AM 1600 ESPN Denver.
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