Ever since the NBA implemented the rule in 2006 of college basketball players having to play at least one season with the NCAA, the debates have been endless.
Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari met with the National Basketball Players Association to discuss this rule to possibly let top high school recruits make the immediate jump to the NBA again. This is confusing on Calipari’s part though due to him always landing these recruits at Kentucky. He’s always been able to land the best players such as John Wall, Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.
Per Mac Engal of the Star-Telegram, Calipari addressed the meeting and which players should go from high school to the NBA. He also proposed a combine in order to assess NBA-ready talent.
“The players and the families need to know—here are the ones who should be thinking about the NBA, and here are the ones who should not,” said Calipari. “That’s why you need a combine.”
Calipari also believes that if the one-and-one rule is finally thrown away, we will see college players actually stay three or four years again.
“If they want to go out of high school, go. If they want to go to college and then leave, let them leave when they want to leave,” said Calipari. “Why would we force a kid to stay? ‘Well—it’s good for the game?’ It’s about these kids and their families. Because let me tell you, if we abolish one-and-done, the kids that do come to college will stay for two to three years.”
High school players have already explored other possibilities of avoiding playing one year of college ball. Some play overseas while others have decided to play one year in the NBA’s G League for development.