First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

[Jonesy]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

I would love to see an elite league of about 8-10 teams of 17-20 year old kids playing in an NBDL environment, getting properly trained, focusing only on basketball and making money at the same time. That way we can circumvent the slave system that is college basketball as well as develop future NBA stars the right way. It would benefit both the kids and the NBA, and college teams can focus on recruiting three to four year players and not have to worry about rebuilding every year.

QFMF'in T.

Great post Brankles!

[J.R. Locke]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

Brankles I agree with you scathing remarks about the NCAA.

But for the 1,000 of athletes that are not going pro they are making money. The myth of the uneducated baller is just that. The rates of males who enter college and don't graduate is close to the same as male athletes who don't graduate (depending on how you look at the statistics you can make a case that scholarship athletes graduate at a far greater rate than the average person who attempts college). So a lot of these players are making money. In the least they get an opportunity to see things and mature as people.

On the court I think the NCAA offers exactly what a professional basketball minor league system would. I believe that players most important development comes once there body matures to its adult form in the early 20's. Obviously some humans are just more gifted physically and mature earlier.

I think there should be a full minor league system. Players could declare to enter the draft after high school or after they graduate college (21 year limit?).

The issue of teenage basketball is one that all of America would need to readjust. Our public education system makes it hard for us to replicate a European system of junior leagues etc....

I am in favor of getting these lottery picks out of the NCAA and into the professional ranks as soon as there is a consensus. I don't think anyone benefits from one and done players (not the players, NCAA or the NBA).

[Brankles]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

Brankles I agree with you scathing remarks about the NCAA.

But for the 1,000 of athletes that are not going pro they are making money. The myth of the uneducated baller is just that. The rates of males who enter college and don't graduate is close to the same as male athletes who don't graduate (depending on how you look at the statistics you can make a case that scholarship athletes graduate at a far greater rate than the average person who attempts college). So a lot of these players are making money. In the least they get an opportunity to see things and mature as people.

I agree with this. The NCAA is not as bad as my first post makes it out to be. Opportunities are given to thousands of people each year that they would not see otherwise based on college sports.

But the 20-30 kids coming into college each year with the intent to leave as early as possible have a different agenda than a guy like Lee Humphrey or Bobby Frasor who knows he's going to be in school for all 4 (maybe 5) years. These guys are in college because they have to be, not necessarily just because they want to be. These are the select few the minor league would target.

On the court I think the NCAA offers exactly what a professional basketball minor league system would. I believe that players most important development comes once there body matures to its adult form in the early 20's. Obviously some humans are just more gifted physically and mature earlier.

I disagree that college basketball provides what a minor league would. A player in minor league can concentrate 100% on basketball. They will be monitored by the NBA, they don't have to go to classes they know don't matter, and they will be surrounded by players who all have the same goals, both short-term and long-term. Win games and play in the NBA. Practice each day would provide more of a challenge than the majority of games they would play in college. Expert staff, coaching, and mentoring would be provided as well, to teach the players on how to handle real life situations.

I think there should be a full minor league system. Players could declare to enter the draft after high school or after they graduate college (21 year limit?).

I don't like the idea of forcing them to choose one way or the other their senior year. I think that will pigeonhole a lot of players into situations they might immediately regret, especially if they have to wait until they're 21 to leave college.

The issue of teenage basketball is one that all of America would need to readjust. Our public education system makes it hard for us to replicate a European system of junior leagues etc....

That will be tough, because education is so highly valued in our society, even in instances where it should not be, like athletics. Obviously being ignorant is not cool, but the type of things being taught to NBA players (like communications majors or sociology majors) do not apply at all to what they really should be learning (like how to handle money, invest, market themselves, etc.)

I would like if the minor league took on the role of a mini-university that specializes in how to become a successful all-around athlete in more than the sport. Encourage community service, public speaking, how to deal with women and entourages, sports psychology, on and on.

I am in favor of getting these lottery picks out of the NCAA and into the professional ranks as soon as there is a consensus. I don't think anyone benefits from one and done players (not the players, NCAA or the NBA).

Agreed.

[J.R. Locke]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

Good points again Brankles. I would just add we all know that 18-25 year old males won't just concentrate on just basketball. Ideally I agree that they should be able to work on their game without taking classes and jumping through the student/athlete hoops but in reality you can only spend so much time on basketball, athletics and all of that.

It is not natural for 18-25 year olds to make $40,000+ or whatever a pro basketball player would make under that system. With college they are amongst peers and would likely be more influenced (good or bad) by those type of people. Becoming a pro in anything closes off the world and the people in professional sports have many different agendas. Basketball is often at the bottom of the list. Everyone is susceptible to this lifestyle though. I just question whether the basketball would get better or if individual marketing would just increase. Mercenary basketball.

Anyway I like the way things are headed with the D-League. One of the best things is it puts basketball on the map in smaller cities like Portland, Maine and Frisco, Texas etc....

[raidersbball20]

Re: First High Schooler Drafted to D-League

I like this system, but I wish education would be more important in society