I like this kid's way of thinking.

[beyourowndawg]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/The-unlikeliest-NBA-hopeful-on-the-early-entry-l?urn=ncaab,237955

"I'm pretty much counting on one of these big owners with a late second-round pick having a real big night partying the night before the draft and being like let's blow everybody's mind and draft that Sloan kid," he said, chuckling. "I think my best shot is that Russian billionaire with the Nets. They've got the first pick in the second round, but maybe they'll trade down. They can get me and a pick next year."

 

[jamdawg96]

At least he's on the board.

 

[RebelBruiser]

That happens every year I know, but it really makes you wonder.

This is part of the reason college basketball has been losing its luster with me. It's just an ugly game these days.

 

[mstateglfr]

<span class="post-title">I love how 80 underclassmen have declared, and there are only 58 draft spots. </span>That happens every year I know, but it really makes you wonder.

This is part of the reason college basketball has been losing its luster with me. It's just an ugly game these days.

This is part of the reason? More players declaring than spots avail? I know you rag on college basketball, and usually you have a point...but including this as a reason? Come on.
Thisboils down to more people wanting to get paidat the highest level for a skill they have than spots avail.
Oh the horror, i can see why such a move makes it lose luster with you.

Seriously, elite AAU programs and players getting under the table ****,relentless recruiting without regard to a player declaring for another school(imlooking at you Calipari), and the NCAA's clear mismanagement of basically everything are all valid reasons to hate on CBB.
This though?

What is the problem with more people thanpossible trying to get into the top of their profession?
More people apply to Ivy League schools than availspots.
More recentlaw school grads apply for clerkships and positions at elite firms thanavail spots.
More people apply for positions at Wall Street investment firms than spots avail.

All these are identical situations to the NBA draft. The players are trying to get into the best organization in their industry. The one that pays the best and offers the best competition.
Again, oh the horror of them trying to make it.

Those thatdont make the NBA will have opportunities in the CBA, ABA,DLeague, Europe, Asia, Puerto Rico, Australia, etc etc. They will stillhave opportunities to get paid for their skill.
This is exactly like those that arentpicked for the Ivy Leaguegoing to MSU or OM(they are the comparable school of the South, right?). Or thelaw school grads getting a job at asmall firm instead of the large one. Or the finance people going to work at an Edward Jones in the suburbsinstead of the Wall Street firm.

This happens to most everyone with any sort of drive in life, yet it seems like only those in college basketball are ripped on fordeclaring and not getting drafted.
And if it is really the fact that they are underclassmen yet not going to get drafted that annoys you so much, then all i can say is you arent actually thinking about the individual's reason(s). Yes there are some underclassmen that willdeclare and not get drafted. But that doesnt mean they wont get paid for their abilities, it just means it wont be in the NBA. If theydecided that they need to earnmoney, then WHY NOT declare? WHY NOT try? If it doesnt work out, you havemade a name for yourself thru draft workouts at least and international scouts are now more aware of you...bonus.

SamardoSamuels at LVL is a great example. The dude was an elite recruit, played a couple solid yet not spectacular years, and has now hired an agent. He may not even get drafted, yet he felt compelled to start earning money to help his family. If he manages to get drafted and actually land in the NBA, then all the better.

Long rant right there, time to get to work.

 

[RebelBruiser]

Players these days don't care about college basketball. They don't care aobut the school. They don't care about winning all that much, with some exceptions of course.

Sure they always cared about getting paid, but now that's what it's ALL about.

I'm not against guys declaring early. If they can do it and have a legit chance to get drafted, go ahead. What I'm saying is the over-declaration of underclassmen (and high schoolers before that) is simply a by-product of the rest of the system that you outlined (the AAU programs, the under the table recruiting, the street agents). It's a dirty sport and much different than it was even 15 years ago. The reason so many guys declare early that won't get drafted is primarily because of the hangers-on that pressure them into going when they aren't going to get drafted, the same hangers-on that are a product of the street agent/AAU system.

Your Jarvis Varnado types are few and far between these days. By that, I mean the players that actually care about the school and fans they represent. I'd have said the same thing about him had he left after his junior year as well. He's the exception to the rule.