A Cautionary Tale

While we spout off about what kids should and should not make the jump to the pro's, there is always "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey would say. Sebastian Telfair could become the first high school PG to jump to the pro's and certainly would be the shortest at just shy of 6-feet. He has signed with Louisville. This guy happens to be Stephon Marbury's cousin. But look at his family situation and you realize this is not just about skills. He grew up in a Coney Island housing project, a rough neighborhood to say the least. His brother was just arrested and charged with attempted murder this week. His father, who is a Vietnam vet, has done time for 2nd degree murder and manslaughter. (story here).

You know what - if the NBA had a spot and I was him, I would say "...sorry Mr.Pittino, but I have more important things to worry about than making loads of money for Louisville.". I would be signing shoe deals and drinking Gatorade, even if I had to sit on a bench for 3 years.

We may not like what the NBA is doing to the college game but that is life. College is not for everyone. We let Jennifer Capriata play tennis at 14, send high school baseball players to the minors, let Freddy Adu play soccer.... and the list goes on. And guess what - the college gravy train in football is over too. Better get used to that - the best players ain't gonna be around 4 years. That is free market economics and there is nothing wrong with it.

Ultimately the NCAA just needs to find ways to be more competitive. Does that mean paying players - I don't know. Here's an idea. How about developing a program that allows colleges to bring in high school seniors (prior to their senior year) and let them play a year early in the NCAA. We allow braniac child prodigies to go to college. We take gifted golfers and tennis players and send them to special schools to develop their skills at a young age. Instead of the Lebron nationwide tour watching him dunk on a bunch of short high-school no-talents, why not give him a year playing in the NCAA, honing his skills at a higher level and getting his high school degree at the same time. The colleges can develop a senior year curriculum to accomodate those players - heck, home school the kids. The colleges win because they get the best of the best high school players, the players win because they get to develop their games against higher competition and find out where they really stack-up. The NBA wins because they don't have to bet the farm on "up-side".

If the NCAA does not do something it will get worse. The only thing that will slowdown the losses in the influx of European and global talent to the NBA. If the Euro players are truly more advanced in their basic skills they will continue to put more players in the bigs - and there are only so many jobs available. Time will tell. Will we ever see a high school 7-footer with talent in college? As long as there are Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O'Niell and Kobe Bryant stories, I suspect not.