Posted by nicksjuzunk on April 13, 2008 at 4:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, let's enjoy the year we'll have him!

Posted by Bigger_Al on April 13, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

That's the great thing about getting a recruit like this.

If he is as good as they say, he will help us a lot but only be here one year.

If he is not as good as they say, he will help us for more than one year.

Posted by TurboFan on April 13, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe, in the mean time, he can give Ramar some pointers.

Posted by bugman on April 13, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

wow how encouraging you people are. Anyway, the NBA commisioner is planning on making a rule where college players must be in college two years much like the NFL.

Posted by mparker on April 13, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It's kind of sad in a way; a kid like Derrick Rose, or Greg Oden, were ready. Labron, Kobe, Moses Malone, no doubts on those guys.

But, some, like Kwame Brown?? Hell, college wouldn't have helped them, they'll NEVER be ready.

I kind of understand the NBA, but in a way it is different from the NFL. In the NFL, it's all about muscle mass. Most 18-year olds don't have the bodies to take the hits, and need the college training and the 'years'. to mature.

In the NBA, it's about finesse, skill, quickness, a whole lot more than physique. You hate to see kids FORCED to play college ball and risk injury that could cost them millions and millions.

Look at Greg Oden: what if he'd had some career-ending wipeout under the basket?? What if Derrick Rose had taken a finger to eye, and nevef got his jumper back??

I don't think the college game suffers without those players. Most of the teams that win the NC have players that play at least 3 years before going pro. Very few WIN with one and done, though they might get to the finals.

Posted by alfrizzle097 on April 13, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I see it as a type of agism that the NBA has decided to go the route of forcing kids to play college. Sure there are some economic benefits of not having to take a guy who has never played in a quality league, but that does apply to everyone. A guy like Lebron has no business being forced to play college ball.

With the NFL, it is a practical matter. There is NO highschool kid that is ready to play in the NFL without getting injured. Two different situations...

Posted by VolPride_13 on April 13, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

except for Herman Johnson, LOL!!!

Posted by TurboFan on April 13, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How do the professional leagues get around the restraint of trade laws? I can see the case for the NFL, as stated by MParker, but would think the NBA would not quite meet that threshold. How hard is it to get into developmental leagues or the European leagues?

Posted by imwithphilly on April 13, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Considering I like college bball a lot more than the NBA I wish it was 3 years after your high school class graduates like the NFL

Posted by IBleedOrange444 on April 13, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I wish the article would have expanded on Hopson's game a little bit. How many minutes did he play? How did he shoot the ball? Where did he score the points? I guess I'll go look for the box score.

Posted by Colliervol on April 13, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bugman, you are correct that Stern would like to make it two years but I believe the earliest it could go into effect is 2011 when the current NBA collective bargaining agreement expires. (Yes, the Player's Association has to approve such a change.) So it won't affect Hopson's decision. But, who knows, he might end up staying two years with us. From what I saw, he still needs to gain some weight and strength.

I like the idea of making them stay at least two years but there are a lot of people that don't believe it will pass muster legally. Personally, I've always been against taking these "one and done" players as I think it makes a mockery of the concept (and I use the term very loosely) of the "student athlete". Many of these kids don't even bother with class during second semester of their freshman year since they know they are leaving and it's just a joke. But there are plenty of coaches that will sell their soul for that special player that can take them to a title.

Posted by IBleedOrange444 on April 13, 2008 at 7:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Found the box score for those who are interrested.

Scotty Hopson....... 6-14 FG; 0-4 3pt FG; 3-4 FT; 1 Off RB; 4 Def RB; 5 Tot RB; 0 PF; 15 TP; 2 Ast; 2 TO; 1 Blk; 2 Stl; 19 Min.

That's a pretty good overall line for only playing 19 minutes. Way to play Scotty! Welcome to Big Orange Country.

Posted by DSaVol on April 13, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The entire debate about guys being allowed to go early can be ended forever if the NCAA and the pro leagues would apply the same rules to ALL sports that draft players. The best solution is to use the baseball approach. That is, a kid can sign with a pro team if he wants until he attends his first college class. After that he has to stay 3 years. Everybody gets what they want this way, kids have the chance to go pro out of HS, colleges don't have to play this "game" every year with guys debating whether to leave or not and testing the market but "not signing an agent", and the pros ulimately get most guys at a more mature age and development. Of course, the NCAA, NBA and NFL would NEVER do something as logical as applying the same rules to all sports now would they?

Posted by murrayvol on April 13, 2008 at 8:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And why wouldn't they DSaVol? They all have the best interest of the "student athletes" at heart. Don't they? LOL

Posted by bricker865 on April 13, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Do they still show the McDonald's game on cable anywhere (the replay)?

Posted by Phowell23 on April 13, 2008 at 11:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't understand the arguement of "forcing kids to play college ball and risking injury costing them millions of dollars". When was the last time a kid got injured in college basketball and could not play in the NBA? It happens alot in football but not as much in basketball. I'm not saying basketball isn't a full contact sport and you can't get injured but the injuries aren't as unrecoverable as they are in football. The main injury you will get is like a ACL which can be repaired and you can have a full recovery.

Posted by mparker on April 14, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

phowell, you are missing the big picture (a bit).

It's not the point of whether the injury happens of no, that is just an example of what COULD happen. Heck, maybe the kid dies (Len Bias, and that kid from Loyola).

To me, it has more to do with, as one poster refereed to it, the ability to practice your trade. Does a kid REALLY need to be in college first to play NBA or MLB?? Obviously not. Hockey?? Who cares? Soccer? Nope. Tennis?? NOpe. Gymnastics?? NO way.

Football? Empirical data says yes. Most kids wouldn't be drafted, they wouldn't pass the tests. A FEW could. One thing to note about the NFL: it really is NOT a stupid man's game.

Okay, I've rambled, suffice it to say I'm for more athlete freedom, not less. I think the college game is sound in all sports, regardless of what the pros do. there just arent't that many pro slots to be had.

Posted by drakosben1 on April 14, 2008 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

look at Kirby Puckett, look at Lyle Alzado, look at Alvin the chickmunk, look at Mickey Mouse. "It's hard to separate a fool from his money" Better to have love, relationships, and a job. Book learning and a continuing education. It's a waste of a good mind! The poor you'll always have with you. No matter how much money you have. Grow up, people, and give up keeping up with the Jones'! Let the boys stay in school, and quit moaning and groaning about them going pro. Let John Adams and the "quid pro quo" worry about such things. There's nothing we can do to change the status quo except teach our children right from wrong!! And the American way.

Posted by jawbreaker on April 14, 2008 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Would have been nicer if he could have made at least one of his four three-point attempts.

Posted by johnlg00 on April 14, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the NBA Players Association is currently opposing raising the age at which players can enter the NBA. This is a very complex issue with lots of merit on both sides. In my personal opinion, I would much prefer the baseball system for all sports. In that case, only the truly elite prospects would be going pro out of high school. The others would perhaps not get so much more education, but they would get the extra maturity needed to handle the stresses, on and off the field, faced by professional athletes. On the other hand, the European leagues allow kids as young as 16 to sign pro contracts. That is one reason there are so many foreign players in the NBA these days. By the time a European kid is the age of an American college senior, he might be a veteran of six years in the pros and two Olympic teams! In any case, the current system of "one and done" is very nearly the worst of all possible worlds.

Posted by govols57 on April 14, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

He better start working on his 3-point shooting.

Posted by TurboFan on April 14, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The NCAA needs to get over it's amateurism bias. Give kids the chance at a pro try-out (one day, one week, one month, one year, by invitation only) and if they don't make it or change their minds then let them go to the school of their choice and play. Scholarship may not be available at that point if they signed a contract and got paid, but none the less let them find out what they are worth. With that basis you can glom on all sorts of stipulations and requirements.

Posted by murrayvol on April 14, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I got a real kick out of the NCAA insisting that players be referred to as "student athletes" throughout the tourney. How many classes do you think Rose, Beasley, Mayo, et al attended since August?

MLB has it right but there's too much money & too many profile issues for the NCAA & NBA to pull that trigger. For every James there's a Curry or two or three.

Posted by bricker865 on April 14, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I tore my acl playing golf once....j/k

Posted by marc_ash on April 14, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mparker,

Interesting thoughts on players and their decisions to go pro. I agree with all that you say in regards to the nature of the game and how well many young players prepared. I personally do not feel that there should be any cap on age in any sport (and here is why).

The importance of education cannot be debated. Not just the knowledge one gains in attending school for 4 (or more) years, but for the experiences collge affords. That being said, college is 'supposed' to prepare people for the "real world" aka to get a job.

Young men and women that are looking at professional sports as a possibility are in fact choosing to interview for a job. Now, I understand many young men aren't ready, but the choice should be theirs and no one elses.

I was somewhat surprised when Clarrett lost his case vs the NFL. If you look at it from a technical point of view, the NFL, MLB, NBA, etc are businesses. Businesses aren't supposed to discriminate or exclude anyone from the opportunity to "earn a living". Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is discrimination per se, but one could argue that it excludes certain people based on age.

If we are in a society that preaches "getting the best job possible", then I would say a young talent having the opportunity to make a million a year for a few years would be a good job to me.

Posted by marc_ash on April 14, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just out of curiousity, I wonder how many college athletes have had career ending injuries after choosing to stay in college another year?

I would be very intersted to see the statistics on this. I think we often hear how horrible it would be if someone came back to college another year and got hurt...but I don't know that I recall it really happening often. Even Willis McGahee came back and became a pro bowl after one of the UGLIEST knee injuries I've ever seen.

Posted by itsme53792 on April 14, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

murryvol: The Memphis coaches send a monitor to all classes to assure the player is there; that by the way, was one of the key motivators for Rose's family in pushing him to Memphis. After they find out they can go high in the draft? Nobody's going to class. On another point, it is really difficult to predict who will be a franchise player...unless they're 7'0"+. You can't coach seven feet.

Posted by BigOrangeHustler on April 14, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

itsme, you actually believe the Memphis playerys go to class? I guarantee combined that team would not have enough credits or hours to graduate. And for the monitor stuff- what a joke. I'm sure if one sees rose or cdr is not in class, no disciplinary actions will be enforced.

Posted by cc623 on April 14, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To all of those with the same comments on getting injured and missing out on a pro career get over it as it is very unlikely in today's realm of medical advances.It is better to keep in mind that a pro career is never eternal but,a good education and a degree is!Without furthering an education until completion it is extremely difficult to compete in today's job market.So what happens if that "one and done"player gets to the pros and bombs as so many before him have?Without an education they might be a local hero but,as far as earning a living they are going to be falling short.Or what if they go to the pros and do well only to find out just as many before them that their manager has spent all of their money only to be left filing bankruptcy which could all be prevented by having a college education and able to handle their own money.

Posted by murrayvol on April 14, 2008 at 8:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks for the insight itsme53. I suspect, however, that Final Four talent at every posistion save PG was a significantly larger factor than class monitors.

Good point re: franchise players. With very few exceptions (i.e. James) you're right.

Posted by murrayvol on April 14, 2008 at 8:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

cc623: See Exhibit A - Latrell Sprewell. Made enough $$$ to burn up a wet mule. He's now washed up, broke, bankrupt, and bound for the scrapheap of life.

Posted by TommyJack on April 15, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

murray: And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Posted by hsdoss on April 16, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You good people from Tenn. will be happily surprised when you see SCOTTY play. He is the real deal and to project him as the number nine player may be a little low as this kid can do it all. Vol fans stay turned.

Posted by itsme53792 on April 16, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Orangehustler: Your comments are--in view of the overall college basketball environment--predicatably cynical. However, Memphis has graduated 16 of the last 19 players that didn't go pro during their eligibility. That doesn't happen without going to class. And Memphis President Shirley Raines is an old school m'arm with a no-nonsense attitude. No easy diploma paper is being handed out. With all his problems, Andre Allen will graduate next month...the first ever in his family to do so. There is also a program for all the old players (Penny Hardaway, Cedric Henderson, and now Keith Lee) to return and get their degrees.
So your "bet" is wrong. By the way, check ESPNU in a few minutes and see Tyreke Evans' new conference. He's CDR and Rose rolled into one, the MCD's MVP, 6'6" and a "one and done". He'll join Devon Ebanks, Angel Garci, Matt Simpkins and the Witherspoon kid the be the #1 recruiting class in bball this year.