I watched a high school basketball game last night on TV that included Lawrence North and their star, 7-footer Greg Oden. He was destined to be the #1 pick in the 2006 draft until the NBA's new agreement outlawed drafting kids straight ouf of high school. He's now going to spend at least one year at Ohio State, and after watching him last night I can say without hesitation that they're getting a real stud. He's 7-foot tall and he runs the floor like a gazelle, often beating the guards down the court. He's got great hands, a soft touch and he moves his feet on defense. He finished this game with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 8 blocks. He's also, by all accounts, a great kid who hasn't let stardom go to his head. He's an honor roll student and, in particular, a math wiz. He won't be in college more than one year, but he's gonna tear it up for that year.
- Log in to post comments
Let's hope he remains healthy so that he can at least benefit some from a professional career. This 19 year old requirement smells fishy to me and I'm sure to others. I think the NCAA must have someone on the hook in the NBA offices. Maybe they are revenue sharing with the NBA. Why can a person become a professional golfer, tennis player, baseball player or hockey player at age 18 but not a basketball player?
jcw wrote:
Although I do think that the age limit is illegal (it hasn't been challenged in court yet), I also see why the NCAA, the NBA and the NBA player's union all favor it. The NCAA obviously gets star athletes for at least one year on college campuses. The NBA gets players who are a bit better prepared and teams don't have to spend 3 years teaching them how to play while paying them millions. And the player's union, controlled by current players and not future players, gets more roster spots for veterans by delaying the entry of high school phenoms into the league.
The only ones who don't have a say in it are the kids themselves, but I suspect that most of them will probably be thankful for that year in college. They'll be better prepared to compete in the NBA than they would otherwise be even with just one year in college. For the cream of the crop - Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett - this won't matter much. But for virtually all of the other early entry high schoolers, it will make a big difference. They get very little coaching and practice time in the NBA, where they play 3-4 games every week, and they won't get much playing time durign games to learn either. So I think it's a win-win all the way around, except that I also think it's illegal restraint of trade.
That kid has looked like he's 30 since he was about 14, and a lock #1 pick even before that. I hear that his offense isn't there yet (why should it be) but that his defense is reminiscent of Russell.
Matthew wrote:
Yeah, he definitely doesn't look like a 17 year old. His offense isn't terribly advanced, but it doesn't need to be against the competition he's playing against. He does have very soft hands, catches the ball well in traffic, and he moves his feet very well. That's what coaches look for in kids his age, it means he has the tools to become a great offensive player. He did show a jump hook and a nice ball fake/drop step that led to a reverse layup, so he's obviously worked a lot on his low post moves. He moves very smoothly too. But on defense, he's a beast. He's 7 foot, but I think his arms are even longer than the average 7 footer. He has a huge wingspan and seems to be able to block shots from across the court.
I saw some press on him a year or two ago, and at that time he said he was 100% sure he was going to college, regardless if the NBA instituted the 19yr old rule. He's more into academics than most other top high school b-ballers. Don't be surprised if he pulls a Tim Duncan and sticks around long enough to graduate (maybe 3yrs).
The NBA rule has legal precendent and may stand up in court if challenged (see Maurice Clarett vs. the NFL). I think as long as the players' union and league owners have agreed on it, it should be legal. Personally, I think the NFL and NBA should invest in the real minor league (none of this NBDL or NFL-Europe bullshit), like Major League Baseball and the NHL have done. That would allow collegiate sports to be truly amateur athletics, and kids who have no interest in academics can go directly to the professional level (playing in the minors for a couple of years).
""He's more into academics than most other top high school b-ballers. Don't be surprised if he pulls a Tim Duncan and sticks around long enough to graduate (maybe 3yrs)."
I would really like to believe that there are some intelligent, bright, athletically talented young kids out there, who would prefer to attend a major university (not just a big-time athletic university) , go to classes, participate actively in class discussions and around campus as well, play marvelous and outstanding world class basketball, and graduate (maybe with honors) before avaricely seeking NBA number 1 pick money. But i suppose the days of Alcindor/Abdul Jabbar and Walton are long gone (a couple of other great high school 7'ers i had the enormous pleasure of attending classes with as well as watching some of the finest hoop playing ever).