Before my time, WIlt Chamberlain left Kansas BEFORE HE USED UP HIS ELIGIBILITY to play for the Globetrotters then the NBA. I can remember when Marvin 'Bad News' Barnes went to the ABA from Providence early.. Then the recruiting news, in the printed days, where Moses Malone and Bill Willoughby went straight to the pros from high school... Of course, it was news when Magic Johnson left early from Michigan State to go pro. Isiah Thomas leaving Indiana early a few years later....NOW, a player is analyzed in a negative light by NBA scouts if they attend a university all 4 years.. They are 'old' when entering the NBA as a 22-23 year old.. Oh how times have changed.
I certainly understand the argument for either going directly to the NBA from high school or playing somewhere where a kid can make money for himself and his family, even while young at life,, Many success stories for sure.. And certainly many broken dreams of believing they are the next best thing, then lost in the shuffle trying to gain some traction at any pro league to make money. Certainly, some of these kids are not academically suited for college so the NBA or 'its minor leagues' (D league or whatever) come into play. My opinion is that there does need to be some level of good counsel to some of these kids.. Maybe an honesty that kids need to hear at 18 years of age.. Maybe all the hype is not the truth and maybe a kid needs the '4 year buffer' from 'real life' in a college setting to get better as a player and to grow as a person..
There are good things about college ball that should be mentioned that is not all about the pragmatism of preparing for a NBA or other pro job.. If its a job only, then everyone should go to a specialty school for their career and skip college... I do think there is value for many in participating at a university where the crowds have intimacy and a relationship with the players. Where kids in the stands can see a classmate whom they can relate or know on a personal basis to cheer for, and the kids understand the comraderie of a student body supporting them. Maybe learning the skill of interacting with someone much different in circumstances of being raised, color of skin, political differences, social differences, and reason with them as well as work together. I think there is still a lot of good about representing a university and learning what that means in terms of expectations and behavior.. To learn a practice schedule and balance with other things in life.
I agree that all future pro basketball players or those for any other sport for that matter, ARE NOT NECESSARILY MEANT FOR UNIVERSITIES.. That academically, they are not belonging.. We still need to increase our kids' awareness in the importance of trade schools and learning a craft.. That is important in life.. But so are relationships for a quality of life.. To be responsible to one another, for one another, and for an institution.... Altruistic motives to make money in life are not wrong, but its not the "be all, end all" of life either... Some of the happiest people in life are not ones that have money but those that have deep rich relationships.. Some of that can be fostered at the college level... I am not saying that my thinking should be PREFERRED by ALL KIDS.... But I believe it should be mentioned as a VIABLE, DESIRABLE, and RATIONAL alternative to taking a pragmatic approach of the belief that "hey I am just going to college because the NBA says I have to play at least a year before I go pro"..... Believe me, the NBA could really use a lot more 'mature' people that can relate to others including instruction from coaches and time to hone their skill.
I certainly understand the argument for either going directly to the NBA from high school or playing somewhere where a kid can make money for himself and his family, even while young at life,, Many success stories for sure.. And certainly many broken dreams of believing they are the next best thing, then lost in the shuffle trying to gain some traction at any pro league to make money. Certainly, some of these kids are not academically suited for college so the NBA or 'its minor leagues' (D league or whatever) come into play. My opinion is that there does need to be some level of good counsel to some of these kids.. Maybe an honesty that kids need to hear at 18 years of age.. Maybe all the hype is not the truth and maybe a kid needs the '4 year buffer' from 'real life' in a college setting to get better as a player and to grow as a person..
There are good things about college ball that should be mentioned that is not all about the pragmatism of preparing for a NBA or other pro job.. If its a job only, then everyone should go to a specialty school for their career and skip college... I do think there is value for many in participating at a university where the crowds have intimacy and a relationship with the players. Where kids in the stands can see a classmate whom they can relate or know on a personal basis to cheer for, and the kids understand the comraderie of a student body supporting them. Maybe learning the skill of interacting with someone much different in circumstances of being raised, color of skin, political differences, social differences, and reason with them as well as work together. I think there is still a lot of good about representing a university and learning what that means in terms of expectations and behavior.. To learn a practice schedule and balance with other things in life.
I agree that all future pro basketball players or those for any other sport for that matter, ARE NOT NECESSARILY MEANT FOR UNIVERSITIES.. That academically, they are not belonging.. We still need to increase our kids' awareness in the importance of trade schools and learning a craft.. That is important in life.. But so are relationships for a quality of life.. To be responsible to one another, for one another, and for an institution.... Altruistic motives to make money in life are not wrong, but its not the "be all, end all" of life either... Some of the happiest people in life are not ones that have money but those that have deep rich relationships.. Some of that can be fostered at the college level... I am not saying that my thinking should be PREFERRED by ALL KIDS.... But I believe it should be mentioned as a VIABLE, DESIRABLE, and RATIONAL alternative to taking a pragmatic approach of the belief that "hey I am just going to college because the NBA says I have to play at least a year before I go pro"..... Believe me, the NBA could really use a lot more 'mature' people that can relate to others including instruction from coaches and time to hone their skill.
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