NCAA Basketball level playing field Model
There is presently discussion going on by two power conferences to
make freshmen ineligible. Such a move would put NCAA basketball back
50 years. The gist of the idea is to eliminate the one and done players
who want to go pro.
One thing for sure is that we desperately need a level playing field.
We also know that not all HS athletes are interested in continuing
their education, heck many struggled to get through HS. The problem
could be resolved by developing a NBA ML (minor league) model and a
Student/Athlete model. It would behoove the NBA to take the initiative
on this but we all know they more than likely wouldn't. and why should
they if the Kentucky's of the world are willing to be their minor league
program.
Let the HS recruits and the Universities chose which model they want
to support. Let Kentucky and 9 other similarly situated Universities
form a league of their own., adopting the NBA ML model. The league
could consist of 10 schools who would play a round robin schedule or two
home and two away , with a championship playoff for the national
championship. The school could recruit all eligible athletes who are
not interested in an education (and forego any and all rights to
participate in the Student/Athlete Model) on a yearly renewable contract
with a cap salary to prevent bidding by programs with more assets. At
the end of the season the athletes would be eligible for the NBA draft.
If not picked up in the draft the athlete would be eligible to sign
another one year contract. Each team would have the usual number of
athletes. With 10 programs adopting the NBA ML Model that would allow
for 130 athletes not drafted by the NBA to sign a one year contract to
showcase and develop their skills. Universities would not be limited to
signing only HS athletes but athletes that have not yet been drafted or
are in Developmental leagues and foreign athletes as well. In all
likely hood there would not be 130 out of HS ready to go the NBA ML
Model anyway.
The athlete that chooses to opt for the NBA ML Model would become
immediately ineligible for the Student/Athlete Model. These athletes
would not be house on campus but in adjoining housing for ease of access
to the facilities.
STUDENT/ATHLETE Model
Under the student/Athlete Model the Universities would operate pretty
much the same as they do now with a few exceptions. The scholarship
agreement between the University and Student would be bilateral. The
University would be obligated to the student for a full ride of 4 years.
The Recruit that opts for the Student/Athlete Model would be obligated
to that University for 4 years. Redshirt rules would apply should the
University and Student agree. Transfer rules would also apply allowing a
student to transfer to a school/program better suited for his talents
and education interests. This would have to be agreed upon by the
University and Student much as it is now.
A student that becomes academically ineligible, or is suspended for
team infractions, or for student code of ethics would not be eligible
for the NBA draft till his/her senior class graduates. This would
eliminate those looking for a loophole to allow them to leave school
early to be draft eligible. Under the Student/Athlete Model there would
be no need to make freshmen ineligible as those athletes would have
opted for the NBA ML Model. Freshmen need to be able to play to develop
their skills for their sophomore, junior and senior years. Should a
freshman have the skill level that would allow him/her to start would
not be restricted from doing so.
It would be up to the leagues (and Universities) to decide if the
student/athletes should receive some remuneration. Other present rules
regarding graduation rates etc would still apply.
This concept is obviously a rough concept that
needs tweeking but it would eliminate the run and done athletes that
have no interest in an education, and Universities that have little
interest in educating their athletes from those that do. Upon
graduation the Student/Athletes (or those suspended) would be eligible
for the NBA Draft.
There is presently discussion going on by two power conferences to
make freshmen ineligible. Such a move would put NCAA basketball back
50 years. The gist of the idea is to eliminate the one and done players
who want to go pro.
One thing for sure is that we desperately need a level playing field.
We also know that not all HS athletes are interested in continuing
their education, heck many struggled to get through HS. The problem
could be resolved by developing a NBA ML (minor league) model and a
Student/Athlete model. It would behoove the NBA to take the initiative
on this but we all know they more than likely wouldn't. and why should
they if the Kentucky's of the world are willing to be their minor league
program.
Let the HS recruits and the Universities chose which model they want
to support. Let Kentucky and 9 other similarly situated Universities
form a league of their own., adopting the NBA ML model. The league
could consist of 10 schools who would play a round robin schedule or two
home and two away , with a championship playoff for the national
championship. The school could recruit all eligible athletes who are
not interested in an education (and forego any and all rights to
participate in the Student/Athlete Model) on a yearly renewable contract
with a cap salary to prevent bidding by programs with more assets. At
the end of the season the athletes would be eligible for the NBA draft.
If not picked up in the draft the athlete would be eligible to sign
another one year contract. Each team would have the usual number of
athletes. With 10 programs adopting the NBA ML Model that would allow
for 130 athletes not drafted by the NBA to sign a one year contract to
showcase and develop their skills. Universities would not be limited to
signing only HS athletes but athletes that have not yet been drafted or
are in Developmental leagues and foreign athletes as well. In all
likely hood there would not be 130 out of HS ready to go the NBA ML
Model anyway.
The athlete that chooses to opt for the NBA ML Model would become
immediately ineligible for the Student/Athlete Model. These athletes
would not be house on campus but in adjoining housing for ease of access
to the facilities.
STUDENT/ATHLETE Model
Under the student/Athlete Model the Universities would operate pretty
much the same as they do now with a few exceptions. The scholarship
agreement between the University and Student would be bilateral. The
University would be obligated to the student for a full ride of 4 years.
The Recruit that opts for the Student/Athlete Model would be obligated
to that University for 4 years. Redshirt rules would apply should the
University and Student agree. Transfer rules would also apply allowing a
student to transfer to a school/program better suited for his talents
and education interests. This would have to be agreed upon by the
University and Student much as it is now.
A student that becomes academically ineligible, or is suspended for
team infractions, or for student code of ethics would not be eligible
for the NBA draft till his/her senior class graduates. This would
eliminate those looking for a loophole to allow them to leave school
early to be draft eligible. Under the Student/Athlete Model there would
be no need to make freshmen ineligible as those athletes would have
opted for the NBA ML Model. Freshmen need to be able to play to develop
their skills for their sophomore, junior and senior years. Should a
freshman have the skill level that would allow him/her to start would
not be restricted from doing so.
It would be up to the leagues (and Universities) to decide if the
student/athletes should receive some remuneration. Other present rules
regarding graduation rates etc would still apply.
This concept is obviously a rough concept that
needs tweeking but it would eliminate the run and done athletes that
have no interest in an education, and Universities that have little
interest in educating their athletes from those that do. Upon
graduation the Student/Athletes (or those suspended) would be eligible
for the NBA Draft.
