Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | One year wonders
By John Clayton
Posted: 11/13/08, 1:53 AM EST Section: Sports
At the same time, it's easy to fathom why college coaches would want players taking extended stays in the college game. Some of those are understandably selfish. "You don't totally get to grow as a team when you have a guy for one year," Romar said.
Regardless, the rule seems to be forcing more players to go the one-and-done route. A record 10 freshmen were taken in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft, including the first three players selected (Southern California's O.J. Mayo was third overall).
There were eight one-and-done freshmen taken in the first round of the 2007 Draft, and two in the 2006 version (the first under the new rules).
Two of those freshmen in 2007 - Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton - spent the previous year playing for Paul Hewitt at Georgia Tech. Young and Crittenton were the Yellow Jackets two leading scorers, keeping them afloat before they eventually earned an NCAA Tournament berth.
Still, Hewitt downplayed the importance of the rule to the college game.
"I'd say the NBA's the No. 1 beneficiary of it," Hewitt said. "I would say second is the players themselves, and third is the college game. That said, I don't think it has a major effect on the health of our game."
Hawes was also part of that 2007 class, taken No. 10 by the Sacramento Kings. He averaged 14.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game his lone season with the Huskies. "He came in, had a successful year and moved on to the pros," Romar said.
Romar understood Hawes' decision. He said a problem occurs when players go into their freshman season with the mentality that they are "renting out" the program for a year.
Such concerns came to the forefront in light of the O.J. Mayo scandal this past spring. In May, ESPN reported that Mayo received about $30,000 in cash and gifts while at USC from BDA Sports Management.
Reggie Minton, the deputy executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, thinks forcing players to college that aren't ready or have no desire to be there isn't a smart idea.
Regardless, the rule seems to be forcing more players to go the one-and-done route. A record 10 freshmen were taken in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft, including the first three players selected (Southern California's O.J. Mayo was third overall).
There were eight one-and-done freshmen taken in the first round of the 2007 Draft, and two in the 2006 version (the first under the new rules).
Two of those freshmen in 2007 - Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton - spent the previous year playing for Paul Hewitt at Georgia Tech. Young and Crittenton were the Yellow Jackets two leading scorers, keeping them afloat before they eventually earned an NCAA Tournament berth.
Still, Hewitt downplayed the importance of the rule to the college game.
"I'd say the NBA's the No. 1 beneficiary of it," Hewitt said. "I would say second is the players themselves, and third is the college game. That said, I don't think it has a major effect on the health of our game."
Hawes was also part of that 2007 class, taken No. 10 by the Sacramento Kings. He averaged 14.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game his lone season with the Huskies. "He came in, had a successful year and moved on to the pros," Romar said.
Romar understood Hawes' decision. He said a problem occurs when players go into their freshman season with the mentality that they are "renting out" the program for a year.
Such concerns came to the forefront in light of the O.J. Mayo scandal this past spring. In May, ESPN reported that Mayo received about $30,000 in cash and gifts while at USC from BDA Sports Management.
Reggie Minton, the deputy executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, thinks forcing players to college that aren't ready or have no desire to be there isn't a smart idea.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Marc LeVine
posted 11/13/08 @ 10:04 AM EST
I'm afraid that the best place to change this rule is at home, with parents and in the heads of young players. These kids need to understand that their future success is much more likely determined by their ability to effectively communicate and think critically rather than make jump shots. (Continued…)
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