Archive for April 2nd, 2008

Basketball Versus Education

Recent news reports mentioned that no college seniors are on the all-American team for basketball. This highlights the existing trend of players leaving college early to go to the NBA. The NBA no longer accepts athletes right out of high school, so they have to put in at least some time in college. But those who are good enough to play in the NBA go there as soon as they can.

This means that the seniors who are left on the roster are not good enough for the all-American team. I get the feeling that this could mess up the leadership position of captain. What if all the leadership has left the college team for the NBA? With only youngsters who are looking to the NBA, how is a team going to work as a team?

If you want to play sports and graduate, basketball is the worst option. If you don’t even make it to your senior year, how are you going to graduate?  All other major sports (18 of them) have better graduation rates. The fact that basketball players have the smallest chance of going pro, compared to other sports, only compounds the problem. If you want to compete in college athletics and are deciding between basketball and something else, choose something else.

“Wisdom is with aged men, {With} long life is understanding.”
– Job 12:12