NBA

NBA prospects benefit from year in college

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Published June 26, 2007

LAKE BUENA VISTA - In retrospect, Kevin Durant wouldn't change a single thing.

Last year at this time, Durant was among a handful of high school basketball players who would most likely have skipped college were it not for a new NBA rule that requires high school players to play at least one year in college before being eligible to join the professional ranks. At the time, Durant wasn't sure he liked the NBA's eligibility requirement.

One year later, after completing one of the most successful freshman seasons in Texas history, Durant is poised to become the first or second selection in the Thursday's NBA draft.

Now, the rule seems pretty darn good to him.

"At first I really didn't know what the rule was for, " Durant said last month while attending an NBA Pre-Draft camp. "But after I went to college and after I experienced it, I was happy that they put the rule in. College was so fun for me. Just going to summer school, all throughout the whole year was fun for me. I'm glad I went through that experience. It was an experience of a lifetime. I'm not sure what I would have done without the rule. It would have been 50-50. We'll never know now. I'm glad I went to college."

For players such as Durant, Ohio State's Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr., North Carolina's Brandan Wright and Washington's Spencer Hawes, the opportunity to hone their games at big-time college programs for one season then jump to the NBA, has benefited them in ways many could never have anticipated.

Conley is a prime example. His guard play in the NCAA tournament and, ultimately making it to the national championship game, raised his stock.

"A lot of people looked at me differently, looked at all of us (his teammates) differently because we made it to the championship game because that really showed something, " he said. "If you can make it that far, it lets them know something about you. I think that rule really helped college basketball a lot. I think you saw that in the tournament. The tournament was really great this year. A lot of the players were young and they got a chance to show off their ability. There was also a lot more competition. I think that one year helped all of us get ready and made sure that we could compete at the college level before we even thought about jumping to the NBA."

The players thrived. But what about the college game and the schools themselves? Is the rule really good for the game?

"It's been great for the players, " ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas said. "It's been fine for college basketball. But I don't think it's really been that much of a change, honestly. I think the teams, especially the coaches, they've got to get used to the idea of having to recruit one-and-done players. You used to be able to make your decision and kind of choose here and there, now everybody's coming so you almost have to take guys that are one and done. And you have to make the decision. This is the really hard part about recruiting. You're taking a kid that's one and done and that's going to cost you a kid that might stay for three - because nobody's going to wait anymore. Kids are looking at rosters going I want to play right away because I might not be there for more than one year."

Oden, who many believe will be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, said his year at Ohio State was priceless and he thinks every player needs that experience, even if it is just one season.

"You just learn so much going through the college year, " he said. "And guys being able to be a regular college student for that year, if they choose to come out after one year, it sometimes opens up eyes for a bunch of people. Sometimes, they are just not ready and they don't know it."

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.

[Last modified June 25, 2007, 12:20:40]