What would you do?

[Big_Mike]

Let's say that youre a potential NBA player in high school.
And you knew that you would enter the league sooner in life.

But..

Would you rather go to college and study or jump directly from HS to NBA?


I would go to college and study at least 2 years, i think it's a great opportunity in life to get more experience out of basketball and knowledge. And you would meet a bunch of new people and probably get a lot of friends.


How about you gus?

[Gedas]

Well it depends on many things. When you go to college, you risk of getting an injury and ruening your career. When you go to the NBA, after one season (if you're picked high) you will have enough money for life. But besides that, I think college the way to go, because it's another proffesion and good place to tain and improve.

[Jing]

i'd go to college, well i did that actually lol

[[L3]1101]

well first of all you can't jump straight to NBA anymore,

but if it was still possible, then I agree with you. Going to college and play for 2 years gives you a lot more than basketball experience. It's a life experience. Meet people who shares the same interets as you, unlike in highschool where you are stuck with everyone. You get to take courses that interets you, or can help you out later in life. And of course there's the parties, nothing like highschool parties. Once you leave college, everything becomes a job, even if you like it there still gonna be a lot of pressure for you to succeed, not only for people playing basketball but for everyone who graduates. Everything becomes a choir and kinda sucks the fun out of it. So spending some time in college is one of those life experiences that people should experience if they can. I'm loving it.

[Donatello]

You can't go from High School to the NBA anymore.


edit: I started typing this reply but then the phone rang, by the time I hit submit, [L3]1101 beat me.

[Indy]

I don't want to hear anyones bullshit. If you are a promised lottery pick and you are being promised millions, you are not going to say, "eh, no thanks, I'd rather go to school."

You're jumping to the pros, any sane person would.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

I would jump straight to the pro's, mainly because I'm smart anyway so being a top player in the draft would give me enough money that will last me for the rest of my life including endorsement deals and all that. Even if I get seriously hurt, I'll still have alot of money because I'm not going to just spend all my money and let it go like that anyway.

[[L3]1101]

I don't want to hear anyones bullshit. If you are a promised lottery pick and you are being promised millions, you are not going to say, "eh, no thanks, I'd rather go to school."

You're jumping to the pros, any sane person would.

I would to, but the way Big_Mike phrased it, it seems like he's not saying you are gonna be a lottery pick, so there is a risk.

[Silas]

If i were a garunteed lottery pick i'd probably seriously consider going pro, but unless i was at least top 7 i'd probably turn to College. Playing in college gives you a more well rounded game and more experience in top competition, as well as more insurance of having a successful and long NBA career, the injury risk seems much lower in College than it would be in the NBA.

If I had to worry about feeding a family and making ends meet, i'd probably jump straight to the pros.... Example: Sebastian Telfair.

[-Young Buck-]

why the hell would i go to college if i could go pro?

[eastinglandboi]

i would definetly take college, i dont really like high school players, they seem like... cyborgs dont ask me to explain that.

[Unrestrict3D]

I don't want to hear anyones bullshit. If you are a promised lottery pick and you are being promised millions, you are not going to say, "eh, no thanks, I'd rather go to school."

You're jumping to the pros, any sane person would.

I beg to differ. The thing with me is I have a couple alternatives just in case a freak accident somehow occurs and I can't play basketball. I plan to get my masters in business and/or graphic design. Even if you do jump straight to the NBA - there's always a chance of getting into a car accident (Jay Williams I think) or whatever else. It's best to go and get that extra two-four years of schooling and always have a back up plan.

I'd love to see LeBron & the other high schoolers go back to school and get something out of it.

[hammertime23]

I would jump straight to the pros, because you were guaranteed good money to support you and your family, and eventually you would become something decent. In college yes there always is the injury factor, but if you could become a bust in college, and if you became a bust in the nba you would still get money.

[Matt]

straight to the pros if i'm a 1st rounder......no doubt about it. Not about the money, but just about being in the league.

[Unrestrict3D]

straight to the pros if i'm a 1st rounder......no doubt about it. Not about the money, but just about being in the league.

Wat aboot yur edukation!?

[Stevesanity]

If I was a predicted lottery pick and my family really needed that money I would jump into the pro's if not I'll go into college and spend the full 4 years. My family would actually push me to stay in college rather than jump to the pro's, their both on the 'Education first, money later' stance.

Everyone doesn't jump into the pro's cause of the money, Joakim Noah is a recent example of someone that had no interest in it and preferred the college experience course he was already in college but just a reminder that money doesn't always change peoples minds.

And Big Mike your avatar is disgusting.

[J@3]

Everyone doesn't jump into the pro's cause of the money, Joakim Noah is a recent example of someone that had no interest in it and preferred the college experience course he was already in college but just a reminder that money doesn't always change peoples minds.

His parents are both loaded, that's why money wasn't an issue.

[Stevesanity]

Everyone doesn't jump into the pro's cause of the money, Joakim Noah is a recent example of someone that had no interest in it and preferred the college experience course he was already in college but just a reminder that money doesn't always change peoples minds.

His parents are both loaded, that's why money wasn't an issue.

I guess, well another would be someone I know and a more publicly know example in Hassan Adams. He stayed in college for the full four years cause he promised his Mom he would, Hassan was a top ranked prospect in high school and though he wasn't a sure shot lottery pick he was a definite first rounder but even after a stellar sophomore season he opted to stay back. Their are some ballers that prefer going to college and getting a degree, I mean your career in the NBA is not a 100% guarantee but with a degree you can always have a shot at a 9-5 with some application.

I'm not sure if you people have heard of Dwight Wallace, he was a top ranked prospect back in the class of 93 and had a chance to be a first rounder in the draft. He came from a poor background but chose to go to college (to Temple) get his degree like he promised his parents he would. He never did well in college in terms of basketball and ended up doing a 9-5 job at a agency cause he disappeared off the draft lists after a poor showing. He's got personal satisfaction that he lived to his parents promise and spent the four years in college cause he found his future wife there and had the best experience you could possibly imagine. Btw I know him cause he happens to be a family friend.

Yes the majority would take the dead presidents without a second thought but not everyone rushes in cause four years in college can be alot more enjoyable than being the new guy on a team and having to get customed to fame and having the media always criticize your game and find everything about your life. Having to live upto expectations and people using you cause of your new earned cash, I think He Got Game has a part where a dude explains to Jesus Shuttlesworth about how money changes everything. You can lose your friends, you can lose yourself (like Rodman did, again not a HS jumper but a related example) and something like college can really make you mature and come out more ready for life in the NBA be it on the court or off the court.

[Indy]

I beg to differ. The thing with me is I have a couple alternatives just in case a freak accident somehow occurs and I can't play basketball. I plan to get my masters in business and/or graphic design. Even if you do jump straight to the NBA - there's always a chance of getting into a car accident (Jay Williams I think) or whatever else. It's best to go and get that extra two-four years of schooling and always have a back up plan.

I'd love to see LeBron & the other high schoolers go back to school and get something out of it.

Ok... lets see, which type of freak accident would be worse. Blowing your knee in college and never getting to get that NBA money you could have already had, or getting all that money, getting hurt, and still having the money. Tough choice huh.

But hey, you'll always have that degree in communications if that happens right?

Don't get me wrong, I'm a college student now, and I hope to play at the college level this upcoming season. That doesn't mean I wouldn't pop my grandmother for the chance to play in the L though.

Stevesanity, the Dwight Wallace example is an excellent one. On the other hand, you have Lenny Cooke...

[Unrestrict3D]

Money isn't everything. If you think money makes you happy your wrong. Just watch one episode of that Sweet Sixteen or whatever on MTV and you'll know what I mean.

As far as money goes, even if I was LeBron, I wouldn't ask for more than a millon per year. That's more than enough money to live on.

[Indy]

Money isn't everything. If you think money makes you happy your wrong. Just watch one episode of that Sweet Sixteen or whatever on MTV and you'll know what I mean.

As far as money goes, even if I was LeBron, I wouldn't ask for more than a millon per year. That's more than enough money to live on.

How old are you? Out of curiousity.

This is exactly what I would have said 2 or 3 years ago. However, living in the real world has tought me that as unfortunate as it may be, money is everything. The regret would be incredible if you passed on a multi-million dollar contract to go to school and then blew your knee out and never got to taste it.

[Unrestrict3D]

How old are you? Out of curiousity.

This is exactly what I would have said 2 or 3 years ago. However, living in the real world has tought me that as unfortunate as it may be, money is everything. The regret would be incredible if you passed on a multi-million dollar contract to go to school and then blew your knee out and never got to taste it.

I'm eighteen.

I guess under certain circumstances I might jump straight to the NBA. If my parents were having financial troubles than yeah, I'd be participating in the NBA Draft right out of high school. Right now, though, I really don't feel the need for money. I'll be making pretty decent money just doing graphic design on the side (not much work and I enjoy it) to live comfortably as long as I don't get married and have five kids to support.

[cklitsie]

I'd definately pick to go to college, I love NCAA basketball. If you're really a top NBA prospect, how about try to win an NCAA title before getting into the NBA?
I really think it's bullshit how there's a chance to get a freak accident and therefore should go to the big league immediately. College is supposed to be the best time of your life.

Now with the new rules, I expect fewer underclassmen to jump to the NBA too. When prospects only had HS experience it was easier to skip college cause they didn't know what it was like, but after one year in college, more people would like to stay I think.

[Fenix]

I would jump straight to the pro's, mainly because I'm smart anyway so being a top player in the draft would give me enough money that will last me for the rest of my life including endorsement deals and all that. Even if I get seriously hurt, I'll still have alot of money because I'm not going to just spend all my money and let it go like that anyway.

Exactly. People are saying how Oden will stay in school for four year, because he said he would and he's smart enough. That's crap. No one stays in school if he's guaranteed to be picked no.1 overall and their parents aren't exactly millionares (that's why Noah stayed this year). Sure, Duncan did it, but it was a one time phenomen. If Oden is smart, he'll take the money. And to give an answer to the original post - I'd stay as long as necessary. If I' got a guaranteed spot in the Lottery and an endorsement deal, I'd leave.

[John WB]

I'd want to win an NCAA Championship cause MJ did(my favorite NBA player of all-time).

But If I needed the money, I'd go straight out of college. Only if I REALLY needed it. Otherwise, college it is.