Two and Done?

Could the “one and done” rule really be replaced by a “two and done”?

There have been mixed feelings about the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement that requires an age limit of 20 years old which forces potential players to attend at least two years in college before entering the draft.

Currently, the collective bargaining agreement clearly states that players must be out of high school for a minimum of one year and must be at least 19 years of age by the end of the calendar year. This rule has been around since 2005.

This new agreement has a high chance of granting schools the ability to mold impact players for an extra season and increase the overall talent of the players, which also makes for a positive impact within the team as a whole.

According to www.nbcsports.com, “The last NBA draft where high schoolers were allowed in, the Trail Blazers used the No. 6 pick on Martell Webster. Then they had to spend a couple years really developing him, and it was his third season before he was really contributing as a starter and putting in 10 points a game.

The Lakers took Andrew Bynum No. 10 and it was sort of the same thing. The Celtics took Gerald Green No. 18 in that draft and he is now out of the league.”NBC professional basketball sports writer Kurt Helin said that “drafting high school players is hard and expensive.

First you have to pay scouts to get film and fly wherever to get a look at this kid. You’ve got to work them out. Then you’ve got to try and project how the kid is going to be in a couple years.

It’s a more expensive effort than drafting college kids and there is more risk on how they will pan out. If you think the risk is worth it and you draft a high schooler you’ve got to pay him millions while you develop his skills.”

High school senior Austin Rivers is a shooting guard who has signed to play for Duke University after he graduates. It is said that he is in “no rush to leave for the NBA, but is disappointed about potentially losing the opportunity to make a choice.”

I personally believe that the decision should be up to the athlete. If he or she is willing to put the future on the line and attempt to make it big in the NBA at a somewhat young age, then why not —as long as he or she is aware of the potential failure.

Those who are good enough to play in the NBA deserve to make their own decision with their future in mind. If I were put in this situation I would prefer the “one and done” rule.

I would attend a university in that one year span before I decided whether or not I wanted to pursue a professional career at that time or continue university schooling while keeping the plan of playing in the NBA after graduation. Education is important and will be much needed if things did not work out in the athletes favor.

“I don’t think it’s fair to a lot of guys who are ready to go,” Rivers said. “There are certain people that are able to make that jump and you’re trying to tell them they can’t make that jump and they have to wait another year, risk another injury or something like that? At the end of the day it should be up to the player. It’s his life. It’s his choice.”