So I was thinking, is the future of college basketball going to take a dive, or continue to thrive?
Hear me out for a second..
First, it was HS players going straight to the NBA.
Second, it was the new age requirement set at 19yrs and one year removed from HS.
Now, we have seen a new trend of HS prospects bypassing college altogether by going overseas (Jennings/Mudiay/Ferguson) and most recently, a McDs All-American skipping college to play in the G-League?
The NBA and NBPA is going to rewrite their eligibility laws and all signs indicate the major changes would be:
- Allowing players to come straight out of HS (again)
- No more OND, at least two years in college
- Upgrading the pay scale for the NBA's G-League
My open-ended question to all, is how is that going to affect, or will it affect, the elite programs of college basketball?
You remember before the newest age limit, coaches were recruiting some of these HS prospects, only to have them declare for the NBA, and some would even commit/sign and still declare for the NBA Draft!
Do you think this would make things harder on our coaches to be able to keep the game "interesting" or do you think we will adapt like we always do and continue to be one of the most diverse sporting events in the country?
Thoughts..
I don't think a rule change will make any drastic changes to the pecking order of elite college bball programs. After all, it is pretty much the same schools who were dominating before the age limit was put into place in early 2000's as it is now. I imagine that is because the goal for these kids has never really changed, they all dream of playing in the NBA so they will attend the school who they think gives them the best chance to achieve that dream.
Quote from: PBCatfan on May 07, 2018, 08:01:45 AM
I don't think a rule change will make any drastic changes to the pecking order of elite college bball programs. After all, it is pretty much the same schools who were dominating before the age limit was put into place in early 2000's as it is now. I imagine that is because the goal for these kids has never really changed, they all dream of playing in the NBA so they will attend the school who they think gives them the best chance to achieve that dream.
Agreed. I'd be OK with those rule changes and we would get back to the days when kids stuck around for development, the college experience and maybe even a degree for life after basketball. Eliminating the OND would be the best possible thing they could do. They should also allow some type of "grace" period for kids to test the G league and still come back to college as an amateur. Maybe if they only play a low percentage of time during the first year in the G league, then come back to college with the two year minimum.
I think those changes would be beneficial overall. You're right that a lot of programs will end up spending time recruiting a player who ultimately opts to enter the draft but that sort of loss will be offset by the continuity of having players who do show up to campus for a minimum of 2 years. The OND rule really creates a lot of roster turnover which means coaches of top tier programs have to recruit anywhere from 4-6 players a year.
One possible unintended consequence of allowing players to jump to the NBA straight out of high school could be the increase of recruits signing non-binding letters in case their first choice school loses a recruit to the draft and they get the offer. I could see a lot of recruit poaching going on in that world.
Quote from: PBCatfan on May 07, 2018, 08:01:45 AMI don't think a rule change will make any drastic changes to the pecking order of elite college bball programs. After all, it is pretty much the same schools who were dominating before the age limit was put into place in early 2000's as it is now. I imagine that is because the goal for these kids has never really changed, they all dream of playing in the NBA so they will attend the school who they think gives them the best chance to achieve that dream.
The reason I brought that up is because we haven't had many prospects with a 3rd option.
It was always college or the NBA, but I am wondering if prospects would continue to do the same?
Some know they aren't good enough to get drafted in the NBA, but don't want to go to college, so you throw your name in the draft and see if you get selected, and if not you just go overseas?
You know what, I think I just answered my own question haha..
Quote from: Seansbiggestfan on May 07, 2018, 08:12:14 AMAgreed. I'd be OK with those rule changes and we would get back to the days when kids stuck around for development, the college experience and maybe even a degree for life after basketball. Eliminating the OND would be the best possible thing they could do. They should also allow some type of "grace" period for kids to test the G league and still come back to college as an amateur. Maybe if they only play a low percentage of time during the first year in the G league, then come back to college with the two year minimum.
I forgot about this, and it was honestly the best suggestion I've heard.
Let the recruits sign/commit to a school, but test the NBA Draft, and if they don't get selected, be able to return to school.
The one suggestion I heard that wouldn't want to see as much would be a four-year guarantee on scholarships.
So if a prospect enters the draft, as a freshman (Ayton), his scholarship would still count against us for the next three years until he would have been a senior.
It would hurt the elite programs that have several underclassmen declare, but if would help spread out the elite talent across the country.