by Kenneth Hofmann

Created on: February 25, 2009   Last Updated: February 24, 2011

Over the years the NBA has changed rules when dealing with college basketball. There used to be a time when the NBA really did not care whether or not you went or played college ball. Players like Kevin Garnett, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant never attended college at all and were selected right from high school. In recent times however, teams and the NBA are now saying you must now attend college at least a year until eligible for the NBA Draft. This was a positive way of saying that college is more important more than ever in an athletes development.

In fact some teams used to demand that you had to have collegian or international experience before players were even eligible to be selected to their team.  Ownership and management for the Chicago Bulls once thought, before the one year rule was implemented by the NBA, that a player had to attend college for a year or play internationally, for example Toni Kukoc, The Bulls would pass on several high school prospects in drafts because of age and the organization felt that college atmosphere, college basketball and even international basketball was a great way to prepare someone for the NBA. If you wanted to be a Bull you had to at least attended college to qualify or play internationally. One example was when J.R. Smith was given to the Bulls via trade, but the Bulls never allowed him play one game and before all was done, he was sent packing to Denver. Smith was a player drafted right out of high-school.

The times are gone when a high school player can be eligible for the NBA draft. Plus one step ahead of that, there is a limit or salary cap for rookies that tell that athlete that no matter how good they are, no matter how young they are will still be payed no more than what the league sets as a cap. This in itself has created more outstanding starting freshman all over the college landscape. College basketball recruiting has returned as a priority one if you want to get that Freshman Phenom.

NCAA College Basketball and the NBA is now better than ever since these new changes. Before some of the best college recruits would find themselves in the draft and many would see big pay days. Besides the greats like Bryant, Garnett and James most high school players that went straight to the pros had little success.  If they did have success it was not on a consistent basis. Take another example of Darius Myles who also went straight to the NBA from high school. He had a couple good years with the LA Clippers but within time the Portland Trailblazers would eventually cut him and created a statement stating if anyone signs him they will be sued by the Trailblazers. This is not because he was drafted out of high school, but proves the point that most high school players are not always a guarantee success. 

In closing the NBA and College Basketball as a whole is popular again more than ever.  The relationship between them both have become more apparent than ever and high schools are no longer filled with agents luring kids away from any perception of a college degree. 

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