So, I’m not sure that I want to dedicate my personal story to this topic, but I have always found it really interesting. That being said, here are some stories I’ve found on the topic.
This story, written in 2014 shortly before the Kentucky Wildcats played for the national championship, laments the “one and done” rule since all five freshmen expected to start for UK were expected to leave for the NBA. This journalist believes the regulations exploit athletes during college and then deprive them of an education.
I also found this opinion piece, which makes an interesting point. Most people know the names and legacies of Coach K, John Calipari, Tom Izzo, etc. but would be hard-pressed to name a player on their current roster, because nearly the entire roster changes from year to year. The writer also believes that the quality of college basketball has deteriorated since the rule was implemented in 2006.
In this story, the journalist suggests the NBA adopt a new draft eligibility policy similar to the NFL’s policy. Under this new rule, basketball players would not be eligible for the draft until three years after their high school graduation, perhaps extending their time in college.
In terms of football, the plight of age regulations is not so severe. However, many players choose to leave school early and enter the NFL draft. As this story points out, 37 percent of players who leave early are not picked in the first seven rounds, jeopardizing their chances at making a roster and a living in football.
Finally, this article discusses Nick Saban’s view on his players declaring for the draft before graduation. Saban generally supports his players that receive first- or second-round looks, but tells the others they should wait it out. He also brings in speakers to caution his players on the woes of short NFL careers with no college degree.
If I were to write on this topic, I think my main driving questions would be:
Does leaving early for the draft (NBA or NFL) increase a player’s profitability or span of his career?
What percentage of professional players have college degrees?
If basketball players were allowed to enter the draft right after high school, how many would actually be ready for NBA play?
What is the average length of a pro career in each of these leagues?
What do retired professional athletes typically do for a living after playing?
Would staying in college longer and/or graduating typically hurt a player’s chances to be drafted?