The union isn't about to stop the tide of teens rolling into the NBA.

[miami_fan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2...ory?id=1827134

NEW YORK -- A record eight high school players are likely to go in the first round Thursday night.


For the third time in four seasons, the No. 1 pick could be a high school senior.


Nine could be drafted overall -- the previous records are four in the first round and five overall in 2001 and '03.



Hunter


On the eve of the NBA's annual players association convention (June 27-29 in Las Vegas), where a new collective bargaining agreement will be discussed, the union isn't about to stop the tide of teens rolling into the NBA.


"Tell all those high schoolers who are planning to come in that they ought to be glad I'm holding the line for them," said Billy Hunter, the NBA Players Association executive director, after concluding a sit-down interview with ESPN and ESPN.com Thursday at the Westin Hotel in midtown Manhattan.


Hunter then turned around and met, for the first time, possible No. 1 pick Dwight Howard, the senior out of Southwest Atlanta Christian High who was sitting down for an interview after Hunter.


After the introductions, Howard saluted Hunter and said, "Thank you sir."


Howard knows he has a chance to be drafted No. 1 because the union won't negotiate despite NBA commissioner David Stern's advocacy for an age limit of 20 in the new CBA.


It doesn't appear that Stern will ever get such a limit nor is it clear he would want something that would have kept LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh out of the NBA draft last year.


If the NBA pushes the idea when the two sides meet later this summer, it won't get far. Hunter made it clear the union isn't going to budge, enabling the likes of Howard, Shaun Livingston and Josh Smith to enter the NBA after high school graduation.


"We are adamantly against an age limit," Hunter said. "We don't think there's a need for an age limit, and I'm convinced that has been demonstrated by the likes of LeBron James and the other 10 or 12 players, many of them superstars who are currently playing in the NBA.


High school players in NBA draft
2003
LeBron James (No. 1, Cavaliers)
Travis Outlaw (No. 23, Blazers)
Ndudi Ebi (No. 26, Wolves)
Kendrick Perkins (No. 27, Grizzlies)
James Lang (No. 48, Hornets)

2002
Amare Stoudemire (No. 9, Suns)
D'Angelo Collins (not drafted)
Lenny Cooke (not drafted)

2001
Kwame Brown (No. 1, Wizards)
Tyson Chandler (No. 2, Clippers)
Eddy Curry (No. 4, Bulls)
DeSagana Diop (No. 8, Cavaliers)
Ousmane Cisse (No. 47, Nuggets)
Tony Key (not drafted)

2000
Darius Miles (No. 3, Clippers)
DeShawn Stevenson (No. 23, Jazz)

1999
Jonathan Bender (No. 5, Raptors)
Leon Smith (No. 29, Spurs)

1998
Al Harrington (No. 25, Pacers)
Rashard Lewis (No. 32, Sonics)
Korleone Young (No. 40, Pistons)

1997
Tracy McGrady (No. 9, Raptors)
Ronnie Fields (withdrew from draft)

1996
Kobe Bryant (No. 13, Hornets)
Jermaine O'Neal (No. 17, Blazers)
Taj McDavid (not drafted)

1995
Kevin Garnett (No. 5, Wolves)

1975
Darryl Dawkins (No. 5, 76ers)
Bill Willoughby (No. 19, Hawks)

1965
Dave Hicks (No. 104, Bullets)

1963
Reggie Harding (No. 48, Pistons)

1962
Reggie Harding (No. 29, Pistons)

"Let me identify them as Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender," Hunter said. "Clearly the performance of LeBron James at the end of this current season, I thought, put that issue to rest."


Hunter said the NBAPA has articulated the union's position on the issue a number of times since the lockout six years ago.


"We think it seriously impedes the right of any young person who demonstrates sufficient qualifications to play in this league," Hunter said. "I can't think of any sport where there is this cry that a kid must go to college or that he must be 20 or 21 years of age."


Hunter contends that the scouts who work for the NBA deem whether the teenagers are qualified to enter the league. If the players aren't qualified, "then they shouldn't encourage them to do it."


The union's counter six years ago to an age limit was that a year should be taken off the rookie wage scale for each year a player stays in college. The union would agree to do the same thing in current negotiations.


Hunter said the NBA "found that unacceptable" at the time.


The consensus is that a player who comes into the league as a teenager has a chance to get two seven-year maximum contracts before he turns 36 when the cap starts to be affected. But a player who comes into the league in his 20s might only have one chance.


The story of Thursday's draft will be high school players with a record number of them going in the first round.


Howard is one high school senior who is about to be a union member who is glad his representation isn't about to buckle on the issue.


"God blessed us with a lot of talent to go from high school to the NBA," Howard said. "There shouldn't be a restriction on that. We're not as mature as college guys but in the long run, me and my fellow high school guys are better off even though we haven't had the experience. We're open-minded to take on the challenge."


And to get paid when they're teenagers rather than waiting until they turn 20.


Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.


Kinda of a bold move for a union who was essentially bitch slapped by David Stern during the last set of negotitations. I must agree with Billy Hunter on one thing though
Hunter contends that the scouts who work for the NBA deem whether the teenagers are qualified to enter the league. If the players aren't qualified, "then they shouldn't encourage them to do it."

What has happened to all the solid shooters I saw in the NCAA tourney? How come none of those guys were drafted?

[The_herd]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

"I can't think of any sport where there is this cry that a kid must go to college or that he must be 20 or 21 years of age."

Doesn't follow the NFL much I presume.