College players are able to get drafted

[Guest ant_7000]

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA relaxed its eligibility rules Thursday, allowing high school athletes to enter the NBA draft but still go to college as long as they don't sign with a team or an agent.

 

The board tabled a measure that would have allowed high schoolers to play up to one year professionally while retaining college eligibility. That measure will not be debated again until at least August.

 

 

The new eligibility rule will become effective starting with the NBA draft this year.

 

 

"I think it is a cautious step forward," said Ohio State president Brit Kirwan, chairman of the board. "I think the membership will keep revisiting the issue (amateurism) and will be making adjustments in the future."

 

 

The NCAA is in the process of redefining "amateur" because of the increasing amount of college players leaving early for professional drafts and the increase in high schoolers who are skipping college altogether.

 

 

In the NFL draft last weekend, 12 of the first 28 players chosen were college underclassmen. And in the NBA draft last year, four of the top eight choices were high schoolers. The only senior chosen among the top eight was Duke's Shane Battier.

 

 

NCAA President Cedric Dempsey, who is retiring at the end of his term Jan. 1, said he wished the Management Council had sent more proposals to the board for approval, but was hopeful more changes would follow.

 

However, a measure was tabled that would have allowed top athletes to borrow $20,000.

 

 

"The $20,000 loan is still possible," he said. "Each of the divisions have different amateurism rules, with Division II having the most flexibility, then Division III, then Division I. I think they will have an opportunity to change that in the future."

 

 

The loan proposal came before the committee a year ago but was tabled because committee members said they wanted to see more of the amateurism package rather than implement parts of it then.

 

 

The NCAA defines top athletes by where they are projected to go in professional drafts in five sports -- men's and women's basketball, football, baseball and softball. The standards vary for each sport.

 

 

Another proposal tabled Thursday would have allowed high schoolers to head to the pros for a year, then sit out a year and enter college with three years of eligibility left.

 

 

But the most significant change involved high school basketball players, who can now test the draft waters and still go to college. The players' rights would be owned by the NBA team that picked them for a year after they leave college, and players can only enter the draft once.

 

 

"The thought was there should be an opportunity for a prospect to learn his or her value, like a student-athlete," NCAA official David Berst said in explaining the decision about the draft. "He or she is not in position to receive the same kind of guidance an enrolled student-athlete is."

 

 

The board also approved a measure that will allow college athletes to accept prize money if it does not exceed the athlete's travel expenses.

 

 

Another measure now allows high school or prep school athletes to have their educational expenses paid for as long as the money does not come from agents, athletic representatives or professional teams.

 

 

The "amateurism" package was only part of what the committee acted upon.

 

 

The board approved a proposal that will change Division I-A football requirements and adopted an emergency measure that allows schools to pay for medical expenses if a player is signed but not yet enrolled in classes. The rule applies primarily to football.

 

 

And it passed a measure that permits football teams with 6-6 records to qualify for bowl games this year. Previously, teams had to be at least 6-5.

 

 

The board also moved toward academic reform, asking the NCAA's Management Council to propose legislation that would help adjust the sliding scale of test scores and GPAs.

 

 

It also wants the Management Council to propose guidelines that would create incentives and penalties based on a sports team's academic performance. The penalties Kirwan discussed included loss of scholarships or eligibility for postseason play, although he said he didn't foresee changes for another few years.

 

 

"There is a strong consensus to have really significant penalties," Kirwan said. "Everybody I've talked to is on board with that, including the restriction on postseason play."

 

oops I meant High school players that are thinking about jumping to the NBA. Anyway so what do you guys think about it is it a good idea or bad idea?

[Guest treble charged]

So, basically, the NBA is now more like hockey and baseball.

[Guest Choken One]

Why can't they just do the NFL rule...Two years of College before you can be drafted. Or even one year. So maybe the intrigue of having a signed deal with a team but having to work your way in may be a good idea.

[Guest DrTom]

"Why can't they just do the NFL rule...Two years of College before you can be drafted. Or even one year."

 

That would make sense, wouldn't it?  The problem is, the current system has been in place for a while now, and once a few people successfully exploit something, everyone else wants their turn.  I think if they tried the NFL rule, they'd get sued for restraint of trade.

[Guest Ripper]

"Why can't they just do the NFL rule...Two years of College before you can be drafted. Or even one year."

 

That would make sense, wouldn't it?  The problem is, the current system has been in place for a while now, and once a few people successfully exploit something, everyone else wants their turn.  I think if they tried the NFL rule, they'd get sued for restraint of trade.

No, it doesn't make sense.  If you have a great freshman year and you can make it a lottery pick, thus solidifing you future for the next 3 years, screw college.  I just don't agree with paying college sports if they aren't getting paid for it.  The players are making the college money but they get nothing for it, but they should give up money to "live the college experience and get a education".  If the NCAA just said "We want them to come to college so we can make some money off them before they go to the NBA" then I would be fine, but all this "They need the education" crap just is ridiculous.

[Guest What?!]

I don't think they can do the NFL rule with 2 years of college also because of the European players. Does that mean they'd have to get into a college or would their pro status in the Euro leagues make them eligible even though pro leagues there start early like when Tony Parker started playing pro at 15.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

If you are old enough to have a SIN number and get a job you should be able to play any pro sports you want. Why should a young man be able to work 50 hours a week in a factory but not be allowed to play in the NBA at the same age?

[Guest El Satanico]

Well i don't think that it's a good thing for kids to go from high school to the pros.

 

However i like the change in NCAA policy. If a high schooler wants to test the nba market he should be able to. Then if he doesn't get picked up he should be allowed to return to college. I mean keeping a kid out of college when his hs to pros plan failed doesn't help anyone.

 

But still something should be done to encourage kids to go to college. It should start with the colleges because the whole "come get educated" thing just isn't going to be enough of a reason to take college ball over pro ball and more and more hs kids will skip college. College needs to start giving basketball players more reasons other then education to come to college and not go straight to nba.

 

NBA should then do something like limit how much a player straight from hs can make. Make it so kids straight from hs only make minimum salary until the time that they would've been a 2nd or 3rd year college player. The fact that they wouldn't get multi million dollar contracts for at least two years would cut down on hs kids becoming pro players. And as far as the hs kids that would still go to nba even with minimum contracts...well so be it because honestly some of these kids aren't smart enough to make it in college. This also wouldn't affect foreign players just american high school kids.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

It's 3 years before a college football player is draft eligible.This would include redshirt sophmores.

 

They should be allowed to enter the Draft from high school. But once they enter school it should be for at least 3 years. This would include the players who's rights are owned by teams. If you want to be draft eligible the first 2 years go to a Junior College.

[Guest Ripper]

"NBA should then do something like limit how much a player straight from hs can make. Make it so kids straight from hs only make minimum salary until the time that they would've been a 2nd or 3rd year college player. The fact that they wouldn't get multi million dollar contracts for at least two years would cut down on hs kids becoming pro players. And as far as the hs kids that would still go to nba even with minimum contracts...well so be it because honestly some of these kids aren't smart enough to make it in college. This also wouldn't affect foreign players just american high school kids."

 

But how is this fair.  Why should you risk getting hurt, risk being under a system that doesn't show your potential, or risk a coach that just likes another guy better and you get small minutes, just so you can "have the college experience" if you have the chance to fulfill your dream. Why should a Highschool lottery pick make less than a college lottery pick?  Because the guy that went to college played for free and made the college alot of money.  College sports is nothing more than a rip-off to the players.  You get a scholorship...true...but you are basically working for the college.  You are basically an employee.  Your sweat is what brings in alot of revenue for the college and if you make the tournament or advance, the school gets even more money.  And what do you get for it all??? Um...MAYBE positive exposure...MAYBE.

 

If a person on a english Scholarship gets a job in the school library, they will get paid right.  So why should these players go play college ball for free if they have the oppertunity to get drafted.  They are working for the school just the same.

 

Players that didn't get the P.R. to make it straight from highschool, fine. They can use the promotion.  But what are highschoolers that would have made it anyway have to gain from going to college.  Is it going to make them better players?? It made Nate James of Duke a worst player.  Now he is a undrafted, overseas pro that could have been a 1st or early second round pick had he not entered the draft.  I know that is a extreme case, but it can happen.  There is no reason for a Highschooler to go play college ball if he doesn't need it.  It is just a way for colleges to get free work out of players.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

I think the NCAA has been riculous with some of their rules.

[Guest El Satanico]

I said that the colleges also need to change how stuff is handled. I didn't put all the responsibilities on the shoulders of the NBA so don't talk like i did.

 

And i didn't say either side should do things that would totally stop hs kids from going pro. All my idea called for was NBA limiting how much a straight from high school kid can make until a certian point.

 

I fail to see how that's unfair. If a high school kid still wants to skip college then he can but will only be paid the minimum contract. I don't think anyone will cry over a kid making $500,000 a year for playing with a ball. He'd only have to make minimum contract for no more then 3 years. Then when he would've been a second or third year(which ever nba chose) college kid he'd be up for a big pay day if he earned one.

 

If a kid gets worse while in college then he would've been even worse in the nba. Since when does a good high school career earn a player a multi million dollar NBA contract? You can get busts from HS or College but there's a much better chance to get a bust from Hs.

 

If neither side does anything to discourage hs kids from going straight to the nba more and more will start doing it. Then the NBA will fill up with a bunch of unrefined and under developed kids that are basically useless to their team for at least two years, one if the team is lucky. There's alot more Kwame Brown's in high school then there are Kevin Garnett's.

 

Just because up to this year NBA has had mostly good luck with hs players doesn't mean that all high schooler are ready for the NBA. As more and more kids do it there will be more and more kids that have no business being in the NBA. Kwame Brown and the two from Chicago will be just the beginning of hyped high school kids that have no business being in the NBA. Sure a few Kevin Garnett's and Kobe Bryant's will slip through but if it continues the NBA will be full of Kwame Brown's. Why should the teams have to pay big money for kids who likely aren't ready to play?

 

 

If making $500,000 for two years until you show that you're worth millions is unfair then i'd love to be treated unfairly.