LAND OF NO RETURN!!

The good news is that the 7-foot forward Ralph Sampson III, son of the former Houston Rocket Twin Tower, Ralph Sampson II is among the few that have chosen to remain in college to get their education and further develop their skills. The last minute decision to remove his name from the NBA draft did not emerge until Monday.  It is said that he attended a pre-draft workout and collaborated with his family before making the right call. 

Great call, Mr. Sampson!!  Whew!! Not only can he continue to get his education, but he can work on his low-post game and hone in on his defensive skills to complement one of his biggest assets~his size.  He has both length and strength.

The bad news is there is a long list of NBA hopefuls that did not remove their names from the NBA draft by the May 8, 2011 NCAA deadline.  

What does that actually mean for these athletes?  It means that their college eligibility is gone~~

Well, even being in the draft leaves the hopefuls with many unanswered questions.  Here’s the scenario! You’re offered a job, maybe? It’s the profession you’ve always wanted ~ It is your dream job so you accept.  But you don’t know who you will work for, you don’t know how much you will be paid, you don’t know where you will live, and did they mention, it’s not actually a job offer.  It’s more like an internship/apprenticeship.  Just come out and see if you have what it takes to make the cut.
 

Oh, and by the way, did they mention that you have to give up your previous life.  It is the river of no return. You cannot return to college and continue to get your education or prepare yourself for another opportunity to get your dream job.

Did you buy into the hype from the NCAA's constant harping about concern for the athletes and their unceasing use of the term "student-athlete".
The structure of big-time college sports exists to enhance and maintain the status of coaches and administrators, and the draft rules offer the most damning evidence.  The only loser in this game is the athlete.


Athletes should be able to retain their college eligibility until they sign a pro contract or sign with an agent. Why should declaring for a draft or getting drafted mean an athlete’s college career is over?


It doesn’t work that way in baseball. Doesn’t in hockey. Doesn’t in soccer. But, football and basketball? The coaches are protecting their organizations.  Who’s protecting the athlete?

Where do you go from here? The athlete most likely will have to start from scratch.  If a team invites you to play for their summer league you can go on from there, and hopefully make the roster if you perform well enough.  Or if you don't make a NBA roster you are most likely eligible to play for the Development League to improve your game. A NBA team can always call you up if you play well in the D-league.

Or you can become an unrestricted free agent, and then any team can invite you to summer league and then you can be signed by any team, although most athletes end up just going overseas or in the D-League.

You can play overseas, or try to get invited to an NBA camp as a free agent. But if you're like many players who neglected their education while pursuing their dream, you try to find a job, which most likely will involve the phrases "Paper or plastic" or "Would you like to supersize that?" How tragic!!!  :-(


RESOURCES
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19609


CHECK OUT THESE LINKS
Change NCAA Draft Rules?
THE END OF THE MID-MAJOR