MSU Red Cedar Message Board

Would such a rule keep players like Sullenger, Zeller and Harris in school an extra year, or would it convince them to forgo college all together ? It could cut both ways.

True, but it would be two extra years and I'd gladly sacrifice in that trade-off to bring more stability back into college basketball.

This isn't the NCAA's rule, right? I thought it was the professional league (in cooperation with the NCAA) determining when amateur players can turn pro.

It would be really interesting to see what would happen if the NBA went to the same length as the NFL and basically said you have to be out of high school for 3 years before you're allowed to be in the NBA draft. I honestly think you'd see more players take the Brandon Jennings route and go to Europe to play and get paid for those 3 years. You might even see guys play in college for a year and then go to Europe for the next two years. For every player like Austin Rivers that has family money and doesn't necessarily need to turn pro for the money, there are players like Zach Randolph who really needed the money. Randolph left after one year at MSU because he and his family (and the 2-3 kids he had) needed his financial support (and because he had the skills to play in the NBA).

You also have a lot of players that go to college for one season because they basically know they only have to go to school for one semester to stay eligible. They don't really care about being in school and just do enough to get by in the spring semester. As soon as they have to stay eligible for 3 years, it changes a lot of things as well.

I still can't realistically see the NCAA forcing kids to stay a second and third year to keep getting a joke education while they wait to make millions. I can't see it working. It only works for football because kids have to physically develop before they can hope to play NFL ball.

I have no problem with a kid who has the option to go to the draft, but wants to try out college for a year, then goes to the draft after the first year. All I care is that they're playing to play, not to jump to the NBA.

It's like someone giving you a job offer, but saying if you take the offer, you'll have to work for 3 years, no matter what better option becomes available. You'll find any way to get out of it, but if you can't get out of it, you'll hate every minute of it. There'll be no heart in it. That's not what college hoops should be.

I agree with everything you said, but I still think there are ways to balance the stick (losing money, risk of injury, etc) with some incentives. Maybe a bonus for college kids who are drafted? Modest payment/stipends while they are in school?

it wouldn't bring stability...it would bring a bunch of nba prospects being in school and hating it for no other reason than someone is forcing them too and wont let them pursue the better options available. how would you feel if someone said you can have this job but if you get offered 6 figures to take a better job that will make you even happier you can't do it...you would be miserable

O.K., I see your logic regarding college football....so let's set that aside, why does it work for college hockey and college baseball?

Mostly it's to benefit basketball, but for a lot of students (including athletes) you can get close enough to a degree in 3 years that you can finish the rest in the off-season or during summers later.

I see what you are saying... If they change their mind and want to play pro after a year, they can go overseas!

For baseball hardly anyone makes the bigs before 21 anyway. When choosing to sign or not at 18 they are typically choosing between college or 3 years in the minors.

The difference with basketball from the other sports is that more 18-19-20 year olds can make an NBA roster and be a contributing player.

+1

the rule is for the NBAPA to change. the NCAA has absolutely no say.