Billy Donovan wants the age limit to go down. (USATSI)
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Florida Gators coach Billy Donovan said this week that not only does he think the NBA age limit shouldn't be raised, he believes it should be erased. His reasoning? Colleges are assuming the risks of players who are under pressure from NBA agents and hangers-on, compromising the program and he'd rather have players who aren't forced to, but choose to play college basketball.
"College basketball coaches and programs are taking on all the risks," Donovan says. "The kid doesn't want to be in college and wants to be in the NBA, but because of the rules, he has to stay in college. Now you're opening yourself up for potential NCAA violations. … You've got players like Jabari Parker [Duke] or Julius Randle [Kentucky], and there is so much coming at these kids. If a kid takes something he's not supposed to take or he is enticed into something, it's the colleges that are put in harm's way."
"It's colleges that have to handle situations like this and what comes with it," Donovan says of the inducements being offered to big-time NBA prospects. "And what comes with it is a lot of enticement, a lot of agent involvement, a lot of people hovering around and a lot of people trying to get their hooks into the kid. And then if the kid makes a mistake or doesn't do the right thing, all of the sudden it falls on the institution. That's not right when the kid should have never been in college in the first place and should already have been in the NBA."
via Gators Billy Donovan to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver: Don't raise NBA age limit - Orlando Sentinel.
I will now take this opportunity to promote for the 500th time my preferred course of action: two-or-none instead of one-and-done. If you want to jump straight to the NBA, it works for a player like Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker, who are ready right out of college. For players who need the development, give them two years to learn the fundamentals. That way players like Noah Vonleh come out with more seasoning but players who are ready to make the immediate leap can make their money.
This way Donovan might have some of the headaches he's describing, but at least not as many.
Either way, it's interesting to see a college coach make these kinds of comments. Commissioner Adam Silver has been very aggressive in public comments saying the limit has to absolutely be raised.
Basketball Hot News
Rodney Hood declaring for NBA draft, Mike Krzyzewski implies
Rodney Hood transferred to Duke from Mississippi State seeking a fresh start.
The move worked so well, he’ll probably start anew in another league next season. At least that’s what his coach, who’d be in position to know, expects.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, via Daniel Carp of The Chronicle:
“I wish we had him for more than one year, because the growth that he’s had in this year is terrific, and it’s because he wants to be coached and he takes responsibility,” Krzyzewski said. “Anybody’s who’s willing to take responsibility for his or her actions usually does better, and that’s what Rodney does.”
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Hood stands 6-foot-8 and shoots 41 percent on 3-pointers. That combination will definitely earn him an NBA look. If the rest of his game fills in, he could have a really nice career.
Most projections have him going in the middle of the first round, and that sounds about right. He’d be an excellent fit on good teams seeking a role player, but teams picking in the lottery tend to value more all-around players.
Either way, Hood is a strong prospect who stands to cash in once his strong collegiate season ends.
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