Could one-and-done give way to two-and-through in college basketball?
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl is hopeful.
"There's so much dialogue about it (between the NBA and NCAA)," Pearl said at the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Fla. "I do believe there's a chance that because of so much discussion it could change.
"It's a hot topic. It needs to be addressed."
Under the current rule, players are eligible to declare for the NBA draft after only one year in college.
"Two years would be similar to the junior college cycle," Pearl said. "It would give a little more continuity to it. I think it would be a really good compromise.
"And then, you would have a little bit more academic integrity. If you have somebody just his freshman year, there won't be much (academic) progress."
The current rule obviously favors the NBA, including its marketing department. One year of college basketball can turn a high school star into a big-name player
"Everybody knows who (Kentucky freshman) John Wall is now," Pearl said. "But when he was (in high school), only those of us in college basketball knew.
"Nobody knew Kevin Durant until he was at Texas. Then, they all knew him. Nobody knew Greg Oden and Mike Conley until they were at Ohio State.
"So it's working for the NBA. Those guys come in and star and are household names."
From that perspective, the NBA has little reason to change the rule. But there are other considerations.
"I don't think the NBA likes the influx of the numbers that are declaring early," Pearl said. "I think it's a problem for them, too.
"I don't think the NBA is at all recruiting our rosters. But if a guy asks them a question, I think they will give him an accurate evaluation, as opposed to playing games.
"I've been very pleased with the NBA in dealing with the guys I've had to make the decision (whether to turn pro early)."
John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284.
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Comments » 29
orangeJACKET writes:
it should go back to the baseball way. if you want to go then go straight from high school. but if you go to school you must stay 3 yrs.
HoustonVol writes:
orangeJACKET writes:
it should go back to the baseball way. if you want to go then go straight from high school. but if you go to school you must stay 3 yrs.
I agree. I have been saying this for years.
veinsoforange writes:
does anyone know if we are going to have the men's Pilot Rocky Top league this year?
FeelVol writes:
I agree with Coach Pearls stance,if a player won't commit to college for at least two years than go ahead and bypass it all together and play ball professionally somewhere.What happened to the idea that school was a place to get a degree?Ah alas the almighty dollar again at work!!!
HtownVol writes:
If a kid wants to go to the NBA from HS, let him. Why make a kid go to college?
If the NBA dont think he is ready, Dont draft him.
And if he goes to college. 3 years. Like football. I doubt the NFL would ever draft a HS kid.
Basically agree with Houston and Orange.
Whats up Houston? I am in Spring.
volfan2002 writes:
Rocky Top league starts on June 15th
veinsoforange writes:
Thank You!
jawbreaker writes:
Correct me if wrong, but I believe a baseball player can leave after two years if he reaches his 21st birthday before that time. For most players, it is three years, but there are exceptions.
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
I've been saying this for years, 2yrs makes these kids at least be a student for a whole year..I still wish they would count the current GPA at Christmas break and disqualify the one and dones from playing in the tourneys..Too many bad apples like the squid use these posers and it gives the university the black eye..Just a thought.
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
Hello, Moses Malone, Darrell Dawkins, Kevin Garnett and of course Lebron James all entered the NBA after High School. I'm not following your argument??
hikerdude writes:
Sounds like bok forgot to take his meds this morning.
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
Yes you did, and yes ewe are..
How did D.rose play in the tourney after missing the whole first semester??
Raynoch writes:
Speaking of Cal, is the NCAA going to tie UK into the Eric Bledsoe investigation? It only took about eight years for Cal to get the NCAA to visit Memphis. He might be a little ahead of schedule at UK.
Good luck with those rent-a-classes!!
murrayvol writes:
A class in life skills wouldn't hurt either.
Don't think the NBA has any say over where a HS grad goes to work on his game. As Pearl noted a high profile NCAA institution works best for their marketing program.
Colliervol writes:
I agree with you about the baseball way of doing it. That sport does very little right but, in this case, they do. "Two and through" is only half the farce that "one and done" is and that ain't good enough.
Colliervol writes:
The day you become a UT fan is the day we might start paying attention to any comment you make. But, since there isn't a chance of that, we don't have to. Move along now. Your continued baseless rants about BP are boring and serve no purpose other than you hearing yourself talk.
Note: I use the term "might start paying attention" loosely because we have some "fans" on here like naffy that are so foolish that we don't pay attention to them either. But since you are a non-UT fan, your opinion is lower than naffy's and that is saying something.
arkyvol writes:
other than the players (who get mega-bucks for their sweat), i don't understand how anyone can get excited about n.b.a. ball. when three fourth of the teams are automatically in the play offs, the season is no longer a season--its an exhibition tour. that attitude also infects the players. watch a game in january and ask yourself how many players are really trying.
hueypilot writes:
Like it or not, I don't think you can deny a person the right to a lucrative living in this country. Isn't that essentially what Herschel did in football. And while we'd like all of them (well some of them) to stay around for four years like Tebow and Manning, both those kids families were comfortable financially.
What would you do? Sign up for 15 hours of econ, biology, sociology, english lit and math, or sign an NBA contract and buy that Lamborghini? Not a hard choice is it?
walt23tn writes:
I totally agree. Nobody should take away a kid's chance at making money out of high school if he's good enough. One year or two years of college? The kid isn't going to take college seriously. He is biding his time, trying to showcase his talents, and trying not to get hurt. He doesn't care about college courses.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Unless your extremely gifted the NBA is a pipe dream..LESS than 2% of college basketball players make a NBA roster..Haven't checked lately but I don't know if there is any former Vols in the NBA????
TommyJack writes:
Old Teej couldn't give a chit less, either way.
golfballs03 writes:
I think the NBA players union wants it to move to at least 2 years
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
Good one TJ, no nonsense answer..
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Hi, Htown.
Wife's from Tomball, I worked in Houston and Woodlands for a few yrs. How's the weather?
Agree with your logic on the NBA.
marinevol writes:
This is all very interesting, but getting to something more relevant, have there been any new developments regarding Brittany Jackson?
http://media.photobucket.com/image/Br...
murrayvol writes:
Lower than naffy?? Certainly a reach but I agree.
Waynesworld writes:
Have there actually been any lebrons or kobe's that could have that super impact to go straight to the NBA in the last 5 years?
tmartin writes:
football doesnt have the option to even draft out of HS. They have to be out of HS for 3 years, but not necessarily play college ball.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Sure there are special players in every draft, but only a couple of real stars each year. The rest will always have been better off learning more in college.
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