High School Junior dropping out of school to....

[wkuhillhound]

play basketball in Europe to become eligible for the 2011 NBA Draft. Can this lead to other high schoolers dropping to pursue the rare NBA dream? Personally, I don't like the decision because there is NO room for error for Tyler if he fails in Europe. No diploma, he could get a GED, but then what. He is so young, this can potentially ruin a very good thing. That is a big leap of faith for someone so young.

Source: http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketb ... y/11683826

[dbackjon]

From what I have read, this guy has been taking cash/benefits and may be declared ineligible to play his Senior year in High School...

Bad trend though.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

hound - i think we've just discovered the fatal flaw in the NBA's age problem... they need to let 18 year olds play in the league... but a HS diploma should be required.

i think making these kids play a year in college... kids who just can't hack it academically... or quite frankly kids whose families are in severe poverty... they don't belong in college. save the scholarships for the kids who are there to use the scholly as a way to pay for their education.

but this is exactly the kind of loophole that Stern should have thought about back when he caved to nonsensical pressure to put the age rule in.

It's funny, MLB has a TON of guys out of HS playing in the minors... you never hear the carping about them

[Willie]

I think all professional sports should require a high school diploma, or GED. I mean it's basically a job isn't it? How many jobs hire you without one anymore?

[clenz]

hound - i think we've just discovered the fatal flaw in the NBA's age problem... they need to let 18 year olds play in the league... but a HS diploma should be required.

i think making these kids play a year in college... kids who just can't hack it academically... or quite frankly kids whose families are in severe poverty... they don't belong in college. save the scholarships for the kids who are there to use the scholly as a way to pay for their education.

but this is exactly the kind of loophole that Stern should have thought about back when he caved to nonsensical pressure to put the age rule in.

It's funny, MLB has a TON of guys out of HS playing in the minors... you never hear the carping about them

So should the NFL lift their 3 year rule? I mean, some of those kids, I would say most, can barley hack it in the university setting. They are taking scholarships from people who could use them for their education. What's wrong with making a kid be responsible enough for at least one semester of college class wise? I would be okay with a 2 year rule. This one year thing, all the kids have to do is take 4 bull crap PE classes and be done with classes and not go the second semester.


I don't buy the poverty thing. These kids are going to school for FREE. Their family doesn't have to worry about paying for school or loans or any bull shit like that.

[BlueHen86]

hound - i think we've just discovered the fatal flaw in the NBA's age problem... they need to let 18 year olds play in the league... but a HS diploma should be required.

i think making these kids play a year in college... kids who just can't hack it academically... or quite frankly kids whose families are in severe poverty... they don't belong in college. save the scholarships for the kids who are there to use the scholly as a way to pay for their education.

but this is exactly the kind of loophole that Stern should have thought about back when he caved to nonsensical pressure to put the age rule in.

It's funny, MLB has a TON of guys out of HS playing in the minors... you never hear the carping about them

So should the NFL lift their 3 year rule? I mean, some of those kids, I would say most, can barley hack it in the university setting. They are taking scholarships from people who could use them for their education. What's wrong with making a kid be responsible enough for at least one semester of college class wise? I would be okay with a 2 year rule. This one year thing, all the kids have to do is take 4 bull crap PE classes and be done with classes and not go the second semester.


I don't buy the poverty thing. These kids are going to school for FREE. Their family doesn't have to worry about paying for school or loans or any bull shit like that.

The player may have siblings at home. Just because he is getting to attend a college for free doesn't mean the rest of the family isn't hurting for money.

The problem isn't the young players who want to make money as soon as possible. The problem is a system where guaranteed big bucks can be earned by draft lottery picks who haven't played a second in the pro's yet. The NBA needs to change the contract and free agency structure.

[dbackjon]

NFL is very different, IMHO, because the skill level/physical maturity needed to play in the NFL does not exist in High School, usually not even until you are a junior or senior in college.


NBA should adopt the MLB rule - you can enter the draft out of HS, or if you enter college, you have to wait 3 years before you are eligible to enter the draft again.

[slycat]

Messed up. He's not old or mature enough to handle Europe.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

NFL is very different, IMHO, because the skill level/physical maturity needed to play in the NFL does not exist in High School, usually not even until you are a junior or senior in college.


NBA should adopt the MLB rule - you can enter the draft out of HS, or if you enter college, you have to wait 3 years before you are eligible to enter the draft again.

agreed.

[FargoBison]

18 year olds don't belong in the NBA, the MLB is structured to develop these kids and move them along, the NBA is not. I think the rule is best as it is now, it gives these players a chance to give college a try, if it doesn't work it is just one year and if it works maybe the kid ends up getting a degree.