NCAA proposal could let early NBA draft entrants return to school

[Tugg Speedman]

NCAA proposal could let early NBA draft entrants return to school
3:33 p.m. EDT June 24, 2015

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2015/06/24/ncaa-nba-draft-early-entrants-return-college/29221125/

Each year, there are more NBA hopefuls than actual drafted underclassmen.

Often, it's because prospective pros aren't getting accurate information about their draft stock. That might change.

Underclassmen would have the opportunity to return to college even after declaring for the NBA draft if a proposal sponsored Wednesday by the NCAA men's basketball oversight committee is approved by the NCAA membership in January.

An NCAA spokesman confirmed the new proposal; ESPN.com first reported it Wednesday afternoon. Committee chair Dan Guerrero told ESPN.com that if the proposal is adopted, it would take effect for the 2016 NBA draft.

The proposal would allow underclassmen to attend the pre-draft combine in Chicago in May and receive evaluations by team personnel to get accurate information about their draft stock. After getting that feedback, the underclassman could decide to return to school at that point (if he did not sign with an agent).

One interesting part of the proposal is that the players would be able to test the waters and still return to school multiple times, not just once.

Currently, underclassmen who officially declare for the NBA draft — and don't withdraw from the draft by the NCAA's early entry deadline — are not allowed to return to school.

The current rules have resulted in more than a few mistakes — and unhappy, undrafted underclassmen. This new proposal, if adopted, would help avoid that.

Underclassmen would have the opportunity to return to college even after declaring for the NBA draft if a proposal sponsored Wednesday by the NCAA men's basketball oversight committee is approved by the NCAA membership in January.

[Tugg Speedman]

While I think this is a good idea ... why wouldn't almost every D1 underclassman declare and go through this process?  If for no other reason than to say/brag they went through the process?  Would this result in hundreds more players going through the process?  Is the NBA ready for this increase in potential players to evaluate?

[brandx]

Don't go starting an argument with yourself

[martyconlonontherun]

What will this really impact? Maybe 20 D-1 players total? Most will declare just to get a head start through the process but this will only be serious for a few prospects.

[Boozemon Barro]

While I think this is a good idea ... why wouldn't almost every D1 underclassman declare and go through this process?  If for no other reason than to say/brag they went through the process?  Would this result in hundreds more players going through the process?  Is the NBA ready for this increase in potential players to evaluate?

They would still need an invite to the combine.

[dgies9156]

What will this really impact? Maybe 20 D-1 players total? Most will declare just to get a head start through the process but this will only be serious for a few prospects.

Would Vander have come back if this rule were in place a few years ago?

Would we have suffered through the last two years if Vander had come back under this rule?

Would Buzz have messed with happy if this rule were in place?

Only your fortune teller knows for sure!

[Class71]

It is about time young talented men are not punished by the NCAA. The number of players impacted will be minimal but for the few who go for the draft to be left behind it gives them another chance. Bravo! An education is worth something and should not be taken away by the NCAA.

[oldwarrior81]

A few years back wasn't the deadline to withdraw 10 days before the draft?  But I also remember a deadline in May.

I remember Calipari whining that the rosters were in limbo and if a player decided to stay in the draft there wasn't anyone available to fill out the roster.

[MU82]

While I think this is a good idea ... why wouldn't almost every D1 underclassman declare and go through this process?  If for no other reason than to say/brag they went through the process?  Would this result in hundreds more players going through the process?  Is the NBA ready for this increase in potential players to evaluate?

This was basically the rule not that many years ago, and it did not result in hundreds of underclassmen declaring and then un-declaring.

I specifically remembering Dee Brown of Illinois benefiting from the rule. He thought he was going to be a No. 1 draft pick but, after going to one of the big combines, he got feedback indicating he wouldn't even have been drafted. So he returned to Illinois. He played PG as a senior, got drafted in the second round, and earned an NBA paycheck for a couple years. Had he been forced to stay in the draft a year earlier, he probably never would have had even a cup of coffee.

And as others have stated, prospects have to be invited to the combine, and there are only so many slots.

This is an excellent proposal, a rule that actually would favor the athletes for a change.

[Tugg Speedman]

This was basically the rule not that many years ago, and it did not result in hundreds of underclassmen declaring and then un-declaring.

I specifically remembering Dee Brown of Illinois benefiting from the rule. He thought he was going to be a No. 1 draft pick but, after going to one of the big combines, he got feedback indicating he wouldn't even have been drafted. So he returned to Illinois. He played PG as a senior, got drafted in the second round, and earned an NBA paycheck for a couple years. Had he been forced to stay in the draft a year earlier, he probably never would have had even a cup of coffee.

And as others have stated, prospects have to be invited to the combine, and there are only so many slots.

This is an excellent proposal, a rule that actually would favor the athletes for a change.

This is the way I remember it too ...

After the 2004–2005 season, Brown considered declaring his eligibility for the NBA Draft. However, Brown broke his foot during the NBA pre-draft camp for draft-eligible players, and opted to not enter the draft and return to Illinois for his senior year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dee_Brown_%28basketball,_born_1984%29

[We R Final Four]

What about the impact on grades for the student athlete? I believe both VB and Dekker (and dozens of others Im sure) stopped going to class while preparing for the draft and workouts.  That isnt going to change.  But, if you dont get drafted or return to school, it assumes that the players schooling is still in good standing---which may not be the case.

[GGGG]

The rule actually used to be that you could declare for the draft, and if you were drafted in the second round, you could opt out and return to school.  Voshon Lenard did this...from his wiki page:

"Lenard played college basketball at the University of Minnesota. After his junior season, he decided to test the waters of the NBA, and declared himself eligible for the draft. The Milwaukee Bucks selected Lenard in the second round of the 1994 NBA Draft. Lenard subsequently opted instead to return to Minnesota to play out his senior season. He finished his career with the Golden Gophers as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,103 points."

[Boozemon Barro]

What about the impact on grades for the student athlete? I believe both VB and Dekker (and dozens of others Im sure) stopped going to class while preparing for the draft and workouts.  That isnt going to change.  But, if you dont get drafted or return to school, it assumes that the players schooling is still in good standing---which may not be the case.

I disagree. Now that they have the option to return to school I'm sure they'd be aware that they'd need to remain academically eligible.

[Tugg Speedman]

The rule actually used to be that you could declare for the draft, and if you were drafted in the second round, you could opt out and return to school.  Voshon Lenard did this...from his wiki page:

"Lenard played college basketball at the University of Minnesota. After his junior season, he decided to test the waters of the NBA, and declared himself eligible for the draft. The Milwaukee Bucks selected Lenard in the second round of the 1994 NBA Draft. Lenard subsequently opted instead to return to Minnesota to play out his senior season. He finished his career with the Golden Gophers as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,103 points."

This rule I like even more.  You can get drafted, or even test the waters as a free agent, and see what kind of contract/future you're offered.  Then you can decide to return to school or sign the contract.

I believe baseball worked something like this.

[GGGG]

This rule I like even more.  You can get drafted, or even test the waters as a free agent, and see what kind of contract/future you're offered.  Then you can decide to return to school or sign the contract.

I believe baseball worked something like this.

I can't recall the details of it.  Maybe it was only after your junior year?  I also wouldn't have problem with a player declaring, getting drafted in the second round, but returning to school with the NBA team holding the rights. 

[Pakuni]

I don't understand why the NCAA can't treat basketball players like hockey players. Let them get drafted when they turn 18, and allow them to retain their eligibility as long as they don't sign a pro contract.
Don't see what sense the double standard makes here. If anything, it enhances interest in the college game. As a Bulls fan, I might not have much interest in a mid-January game between Arkansas and Missouri. But if the game featured Bulls first-round pick Bobby Portis, now I'm watching.

[brandx]

I don't understand why the NCAA can't treat basketball players like hockey players. Let them get drafted when they turn 18, and allow them to retain their eligibility as long as they don't sign a pro contract.
Don't see what sense the double standard makes here. If anything, it enhances interest in the college game. As a Bulls fan, I might not have much interest in a mid-January game between Arkansas and Missouri. But if the game featured Bulls first-round pick Bobby Portis, now I'm watching.

Well, Bird was a future draft pick while in college. At the time, guys could be drafted after 4 years whether they had redshirted or not. Once their class graduated, they were eligible. It was then up to the player whether he wanted to stay in college for his senior season with the drafting team retaining his rights.

But it would be interesting if teams could draft anyone for the future and retain their rights until they graduated.

[ChicosBailBonds]

What about the impact on grades for the student athlete? I believe both VB and Dekker (and dozens of others Im sure) stopped going to class while preparing for the draft and workouts.  That isnt going to change.  But, if you dont get drafted or return to school, it assumes that the players schooling is still in good standing---which may not be the case.

That should be a good thing, maybe now these guys will actually go to class.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I don't understand why the NCAA can't treat basketball players like hockey players. Let them get drafted when they turn 18, and allow them to retain their eligibility as long as they don't sign a pro contract.
Don't see what sense the double standard makes here. If anything, it enhances interest in the college game. As a Bulls fan, I might not have much interest in a mid-January game between Arkansas and Missouri. But if the game featured Bulls first-round pick Bobby Portis, now I'm watching.

Simple...the NBA CBA.  The change has to start with the NBA.

[Jay Bee]

I don't understand why the NCAA can't treat basketball players like hockey players. Let them get drafted when they turn 18, and allow them to retain their eligibility as long as they don't sign a pro contract.
Don't see what sense the double standard makes here. If anything, it enhances interest in the college game. As a Bulls fan, I might not have much interest in a mid-January game between Arkansas and Missouri. But if the game featured Bulls first-round pick Bobby Portis, now I'm watching.

If I'm an NBA team, I'd prefer to watch the mid-January Arkansas and Mizzou game BEFORE drafting a guy.

[Pakuni]

Simple...the NBA CBA.  The change has to start with the NBA.

Not really. There's the one year out of high school rule, which is also silly ( but that's another debate).
Even if that remains, it doesn't substantively change what I'm suggesting. Just delays it a year.
What we're talking about is why a player must give up his NCAA eligibility simply for availing himself to the draft.
Why not let a kid enter the draft, and even get drafted, but retain his eligibility as long as he doesn't sign a contract? Who loses out in that situation? The colleges keep some of their best players longer. The kids can continue to play and develop in a good environment while also (hopefully) working toward a degree. And the NBA gets to let young players develop in a better setting than riding their pines or in the D-League, and at no cost to them.
Everybody wins.

[Pakuni]

If I'm an NBA team, I'd prefer to watch the mid-January Arkansas and Mizzou game BEFORE drafting a guy.

How would what I'm suggesting change that?

[brandx]

Not really. There's the one year out of high school rule, which is also silly ( but that's another debate).
Even if that remains, it doesn't substantively change what I'm suggesting. Just delays it a year.
What we're talking about is why a player must give up his NCAA eligibility simply for availing himself to the draft.
Why not let a kid enter the draft, and even get drafted, but retain his eligibility as long as he doesn't sign a contract? Who loses out in that situation? The colleges keep some of their best players longer. The kids can continue to play and develop in a good environment while also (hopefully) working toward a degree. And the NBA gets to let young players develop in a better setting than riding their pines or in the D-League, and at no cost to them.
Everybody wins.

I agree except for the last part. The competition is much better in the D-League, plus they play more games and are coached by guys who have been around the NBA.

[Pakuni]

I agree except for the last part. The competition is much better in the D-League, plus they play more games and are coached by guys who have been around the NBA.

Surprisingly, they don't play many more games in the D-League. The regular D-League season is 40 games.
Even without a postseason appearance, MU played 32 games last year. Wisconsin played 40 games last year.

As for coaching, with a few exceptions, most of the guys coaching in the D-League are former players just getting into coaching or guys who washed out of the NBA. Nobody chooses to coach in the D-League if they can be even the fifth coach down the bench on an NBA team. These are pretty much the dregs of the professional coaching world.
And few if any have experience dealing specifically with the development of young players. Put that up against the top NCAA guys who've done nothing but develop young players, in some cases for decades, and I think there's a decided edge for college coaches.
And the facilities of the top NCAA programs come close to matching those of the NBA.
I agree, the competition is generally better.

Still, all things considered, I think the overall atmosphere, facilities and coaching in the college game are far better for the development of a young player than the D-League. Which is why every high school player who has a choice in the matter continues to take the college route instead of the D-League.