NBA players: Stay in college Only first-round picks should join draft

NBA players: Stay in college

Only first-round picks should join draf
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RICK BONNELL

Staff Writer


FORT MILL - You can trust your coach, you can trust your mom or you can trust your gut.

Just don't be wrong. Anyone discarding his college eligibility better know he's a first-round pick.

That was the consensus from several NBA players on the subject of turning pro. With college tournaments this week and the NCAA tournament filling the rest of March, this is the time when many players start seriously considering their options.

Charlotte Bobcats coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff says an underclassman who knows he's a first-round pick should consider that option. First-rounders are guaranteed a three-year salary under the NBA's collective-bargaining agreement.

But anyone iffy for first-round status is taking a huge risk.

"The college coaches do a pretty good job of calling around to ascertain where their guys project. But I wouldn't listen to just anybody out there," Bickerstaff said. "You've got some agents who can mislead kids" about their status.

Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison takes the more conservative approach of his former college coach, North Carolina's Dean Smith: If you're not a lottery pick (top 13), maybe you belong back on campus next fall.

"Suppose you're the 22nd pick of the first round," Jamison said. "It's guaranteed money, but it's not that sweet of a deal."

Jamison said there's a misconception that a player is set up for life on what he'd make as a late first-round pick.

The last pick of the 2004 first round was guaranteed about $2.3 million total over his first three seasons -- great money, but hardly a lifetime fortune. Jamison said young players should be more concerned with establishing long careers.

"Some high school kid picked late in the first round is probably going to a team that doesn't really need him," said Jamison, who stayed three seasons at North Carolina before being drafted fourth overall.

"It's a business. These owners want to win quickly, and they can't wait three or four years for you to get your act together. ...If it doesn't happen in two years, they pretty much decide you can't get it done."

And yet college doesn't always lift your draft status. Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace believes he would have been a lottery pick had he turned pro out of high school. Instead, he went to Alabama for a year before being drafted near the end of the first round, 25th overall, by Sacramento.

"I knew even before I got on campus that I'd be there only one year. So it wasn't really a big decision," Wallace recalled. "I was just lucky I didn't fall out of the first round in college. So it was good, the way it worked."

Another Bobcat, Melvin Ely, faced a similar decision following his junior season at Fresno State. After averaging 16.0 points and 7.5 rebounds, he was clearly good enough to be drafted. But his coach, Jerry Tarkanian, made a bold promise.

"He told me, `You give me another year and I'll make you a lottery pick or (darn) close.' " Ely recalled.

Ely stayed his senior season, raising his scoring average by more than seven points, and went 12th overall in the draft. Ely believes he would have been a second-rounder had he turned pro as a junior.

Ely said it's obvious these days why some kids turn pro too soon -- it's family and friends, who know nothing about the NBA, but invariably have the kid's attention.

"You see so many people who made the wrong choice -- people who should have stayed in college or high school kids who weren't ready and totally disappear," Ely said.

"You see situations where families are pushing the kids in, and that's not right."

 

I don't think you should leave early unless you are a top 10 pick. Those players that leave early and are late first round, early second round picks (i.e. Will solomon) end up paying for it. Think if the pack had Josh Powell this year!

 

Josh Powell had no reason to go to NBA none what so ever.Some go to Joseph Forte the guy had 2very good years at UNC and now and not playing in the NBA.I think the NBA should allowed any player that for some reason want to leave college to go NBL for 2years to work on is game Then after 2years he Must Enter draft

 

its possible that may happen soon. the new agreement they are discussing says you have to be out of your high school gradeuating class for 3 years or be 20 years old to enter the NBA draft.

 

its hard to say high school kids are making the wrong choice when 8 get selected in the first round (scary thing is it could of been higher if Rudy Gay and Marvin Williams declared last year)

 

i dont blame the kids, i blame the nba and david stern. before you know it these kids wont even bother attending/graduating from high school. they'll play enough aau ball to get scouted, drafted and bank rolled right off the streets. the nba....its fan-tastic.

 

The Dukey is spreading.