My Letter to the NBA

To whom it may concern,

As an avid basketball fan and frequent viewer of the game, it has become clear to me that maybe the "points of emphasis" that the officials go over each year are not the only rules that need changing or require a closer look. The rule that is in place now in terms of players entering the draft is that they must be 19 years of age before or during the calender year in which the draft is held. I would like to respectfully disagree with the implementation of this rule due to the effect it has on both the college and professional game, as well as the young men that venture into the draft prematurely.

Carter-Williams is among the few good rookies in the NBA

By now every basketball fan knows of the strength and potential of this year's freshman class. Names like Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, and Aaron Gordon have filled headlines and news segments on various TV networks and their talent has many people believing that they will enjoy immediate success in the NBA. However, those four young men will only be four of the sixty draft picks in June (should they leave school early) that appear to be NBA ready. Are there other freshman that are capable? Possibly. But the fact of the matter is that the professional level is not easy to stand out in by any means.

Take a look at last year's draft class. The only players we have heard about all year are Victor Oladipo from Indiana and Michael Carter-Williams from Syracuse. Names like Cody Zeller, Ben McLemore, and Anthony Bennett have, by no means, been standouts in the NBA like they were in college. Is it the kid's fault for leaving early? Most likely. But take into consideration the fact that the media does nothing but build these kids up and, in some ways, give them a little false hope. While a kid like Zeller was a good college player, it was clear he still had some toughness to gain and his strength was not at the necessary level to compete with the dominant big men the NBA has to offer. Right now Zeller is averaging a measly five points and four rebounds while shooting 37% from the floor. Not exactly the numbers we're used to seeing him put up. Why? Because he's not NBA-ready.

But ESPN and other members of the media don't care about that. They only care about what they can gossip about and what kind of drama they can build up through their "draft predictions" and allowing these kids (yes, kids) to enter the draft as teenagers does not help their cause. Look at college football. College football has a rule in place that the players may not leave school until after their junior year. Because of that, we have had the privilege to watch players like Johnny Manziel and Tim Tebow come back and play again following Heisman-winning seasons. We will also have the chance to see this year's Heisman winner, Jameis Winston, come back for his sophomore campaign. This rule not only benefits the players in terms of experience, but it makes games and conferences so much more competitive and so much more relevant in terms of a long-term approach.

The newest UK Freshman have not lived up to expectations

Shifting back to basketball, look at how your draft eligibility rule affects the University of Kentucky. Head coach John Calipari has established a false bravado that he can win championships with nothing but freshman. Each year Kentucky brings in a top five recruiting class and each year the freshman are believed to be "the best freshman class ever". It's annoying and inaccurate and to those who are wanting to say that Calipari CAN win with all freshman and are looking at the 2012 national championship team as proof, you're dead wrong. That starting five consisted of only two freshman in Marquis Teague and Anthony Davis.

While we're on the subject of Teague, take a look at what that kid has amounted to in the NBA. Nothing. Teague was basically a victim of being the point guard on the national championship team with an insane amount of hype surrounding them. Teague bolted for the draft and now flirts with being sent to the D-League on a daily basis. Teague's success in college was a direct result of who his teammates were and we now see that he was and is nowhere near NBA-ready. If the rules of the draft were different, Teague would have gained another year or two of experience in college and potentially been a better pick-up for a team down the road.

I am not saying kids should be required to attend four years of college. Would that be ideal? Yes. It benefits the players, fans, and NBA organizations if kids gain more experience at the college level. It also makes for better basketball for both the NCAA and the NBA. Could you imagine if Jabari Parker was required to stay another year or two and teamed up with Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones next year? I'm not a Duke fan by any means but I would watch every single game I could if those three were to be on the court at the same time, especially after living near Chicago and watching Parker and Okafor play in high school. You could also make the argument that Kyrie Irving and Austin Rivers would STILL be at Duke. Just let that sink in.

Need more examples? Think of Ben McLemore and Andrew Wiggins manning the wings for Kansas. Think of Cody Zeller being on the same front court as Noah Vonleh. What if Bradley Beal was still in Final Four-contender Florida's back court? The list goes on and it's proof that the college game would be so much better and so much more competitive if players were told they had to stay put for more than one year. For school's like Kentucky that just bring freshman in and then ship them out a year later it's not fair to the kids or the fans. Are those Kentucky kids ever part of the program? Are they ever a part of the tradition that school has? Or are they just an experiment to see if Calipari can win with freshman only to be told "Sorry, you didn't live up to expectations. On to the next one."?

Oden has worn a suit more than he's worn an NBA uniform

Also, think of what kind of message you as a professional league are promoting to these kids. You are telling these kids that they can basically go to one year of schooling and then go to the NBA and get paid. That's not how it works. Take Greg Oden for example: the poor guy left after his freshman year of college only to be absolutely demolished by knee injuries. To this day he has still not played a full season and has been out of college for six years. Now, was he capable of playing in the NBA after his freshman year? Yes. BUT now he is likely to not have much of a future in basketball. What does he have to fall back on? It's not easy to get a job in the real world with only one year of college. It's unfortunate that Oden has had such misfortune, but he would be better equipped for the situation if he had to go to school more than one year. These athletes are called STUDENT-athletes for a reason and that's because school should always come first. This "one and done" rule promotes nothing about educational value rather it allows kids to think that they are guaranteed a future in basketball if they are selected in the draft at 19 years of age.

There are plenty of other reasons that would support why kids should be made to stay in college more than just one year. However, I would hope that you would take all of this into consideration and realize that promoting the "one and done" system is not only hurting these kids, but it is watering down your league as well. Kids are not as prepared or ready to compete at such a high level unless they are one-of-a-kind or once-in-a-generation players like Parker, Wiggins, Randle, and Gordon. The rule must be changed and the age must be raised if both the NCAA and NBA wish to present the world with as high-caliber basketball as possible. Your move, NBA.

Happy Holidays,
Nathan A. Wadley

6 Things to Watch in College Basketball

Russ Smith of Louisville

Last night I was sitting on my couch and engaged in a conversation with a roommate about college basketball and the upcoming season. In my excitement for the season to begin I rushed to the store and bought the newest college basketball preview magazine. What entailed was four hours of poring over endless material for what is sure to be a dynamite season all around.

Change is abound in college hoops and the landscape of the game was drastically altered on July 1 when conference realignment was officially implemented. Say hello to a new Big East and welcome in the American Athletic Conference. Say goodbye to some of the game's best rivalries such as Syracuse-Georgetown and bid adieu to Conference USA as a "power conference" (sorry Middle Tennessee and Old Dominion).

Yes, change is the theme of this year in college basketball, but there's no sense in complaining anymore. This is the way it is. So rather than getting your panties in a bunch about the breakup of the Big East, focus on the new great rivalries that realignment has given us. Notre Dame, Syracuse and Pittsburgh joining the ACC creates some enticing matchups as does Butler, Xavier and Creighton joining the Big East.

Don't feel bad if your head is spinning from all these changes. It's hard to keep up anymore, but here are six things to watch for this upcoming season.

1. Can Louisville repeat as national champions?
No team since Florida in 2006 and 2007 has repeated as national champions, but the ingredients are there for Rick Pitino's Cardinals. Nearly every major piece returns and the big one is Russ Smith. The 6-foot dynamo flirted with the NBA, but opted to return. That means Louisville has it's leading scorer (18.7 ppg) back to go with a great frontcourt. Luke Hancock was the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player and Wayne Blackshear started 34 games last season. Chane Behanan and Montrezl Harrell are two physical presences as well. Kevin Ware, barring any setbacks in his rehabilitation process, should be available by October.

2. Kentucky's freshmen class for the ages
We have grown accustomed to watching John Calipari win with a host of freshmen on his Kentucky roster, but last year his young crop of talent didn't possess the brains or the heart to get the job done. This year, six McDonald's All-Americans enter Lexington in hopes of bringing the national championship back across the state. Some media outlets have pegged Andrew Harrison and Julius Randle as All-Americans and Calipari has mentioned his aspirations of going undefeated. Stay tuned.

3. Can Tom Izzo win another title?
I hate to give Tom Izzo grief for only having one national championship to his name, especially because he has been to six Final Fours. However, his 2000 team is the only one that has hoisted the trophy and that's surprising with how much talent has gone through East Lansing. Like Louisville, Michigan State has several key pieces returning, most notably Gary Harris. Harris is versatile on the offensive end and gets after it on defense. Keith Appling is back to run the point and Adreian Payne will anchor the frontline. There's no reason these Spartans shouldn't be in Dallas.

4. How will Creighton, Xavier and Butler do in the Big East?
All three teams have had plenty of success in recent years, but let's not forget that just two years ago Butler was competing against the likes of Cleveland State. Sure, the Bulldogs had great tournament runs, but can they have success throughout the season playing teams like Marquette and Georgetown? Don't expect much from Butler this season, but Doug McDermott and Creighton could contend for the title. Xavier will most likely be middle of the pack.

5. The inaugural season of the American Athletic Conference
The funny thing about the inaugural season for the AAC is that it's going to look different next season. Louisville and Rutgers are members for this year only and then they will depart for the ACC and Big Ten respectively. Tulsa, East Carolina and Tulane will fill the void and the conference will rely on Cincinnati, Memphis and UConn for national exposure. For this year, the renewal of an old rivalry between Louisville and Memphis should be fun to watch, but again, it won't be here for long.

6. Freshmen sensations Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins
Much has been made about these two players. Parker will suit up for Coach K and Duke after leading Simeon (IL) to four straight state titles. He is smart player who is versatile at the forward position. Wiggins is enrolled at Kansas and was regarded as the nation's top player. Many believe that he will be the number one pick in next year's NBA Draft, but he has the ability to take KU deep into March despite being a freshman.

Yes, college football just started, but it's never too early to prepare for March Madness. There are plenty of storylines as the season commences. Kentucky will be number one in most polls, but there is plenty of experience on the Michigan State and Louisville rosters. Coach K will have Duke primed for a title run and Arizona has a nice mix of new recruits and old veterans.

It may only be September, but it's never too early to let the Madness begin.

Kentucky, North Carolina, and a New York State of Mind (Part 1)

This season has been a season of change for both North Carolina and Kentucky. Two of the nation's most historic programs have found themselves in the rebuilding process after displaying two of the most talented teams in the country last year. However, for these two programs, being in the rebuilding process has never been quite as confusing as it is this year, especially for Kentucky.

After capping off one of the best seasons in history with a championship win in New Orleans, the Kentucky Wildcats lost a total of six players to the NBA Draft. Not to worry, Kentucky is a so-called "basketball factory", right? The top recruiting class comes in to Lexington, ends with a top five regular season ranking, then leaves to go to the NBA. John Calipari has become an expert at achieving with new talent year in and year out, no matter if he's doing it legally or not. Regardless, he hasn't been caught and his players do become above-average NBA players.

This year's team is different from any other Kentucky team that Calipari has coached, however. Very different indeed. Yes, it still boasts the nation's top recruits but as I've watched the Cats play this year I've noticed that this team is immature compared to his past few teams. Not immature in whining in complaining but immature as in lack of leadership and having a sense of urgency. Yes, I realize that point guards such as Derrick Rose and John Wall don't exactly come along every year, but by the same token, it doesn't take skill to be a leader on the floor. So far, Archie Goodwin has proved to be a skilled point guard, yes, but it doesn't seem that he takes control of the offense as well as Rose and Wall and even Brandon Knight did. Success starts at the point guard position and if you don't have someone that's going to take charge late in the game then it's going to be tough to win in crunch time.

This particular situation was shown in Kenucky's loss to Alabama the other night. When it came down to the end, no one for Kentucky looked as if they wanted to step up and be "the man". Part of that can be contributed to the fact that, with players leaving every year, Kentucky rarely has a true leader. Last year's team had Darius Miller who was the only senior and a true veteran. This year, who does Kentucky have to look to for leadership? Kyle Wiltjer? He's one of the few returning players but how can you put that kind of pressure on a kid who only averaged eleven minutes per game last year?

Again, classes like those that consisted of Derrick Rose and John Wall don't come around very often. Those two point guards are guys that are winners, they're willing to step up late in games and take charge and they make their teammates better. I just haven't yet seen an attempt to step up by any of these UK freshman. They sit at sixth place in the SEC with a 3-2 conference record and have not yet beaten a ranked team. Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology had the Wildcats seeded tenth which now has people wondering if Kentucky can even make the Big Dance. It will take a big push and it doesn't get any easier as they still have four games against ranked opponents. It's hard to believe, but New York City and the NIT might just be calling Kentucky's name this year.