Many controversies and discussions have hit the NCAA in almost every aspect of the organization and the sport. However, one has remained a constant: the one and done. Since its inception in 2006 by the NBA, this rule has received controversy over whether or not the athletes should be able to make their own life decisions. Overall, there have been 44 high school draftees in NBA history with some finding success and others, not so much. The successes includes some names that many are familiar with such as: Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Kevin Garnett. Some of the most recent names that have gone overseas in recent memory to get around the rule instead are Terrance Ferguson and Emmanuel Mudiay. Some others, like Thon Maker, have found loopholes to transition straight from high school to the NBA.

The main reason that the NBA decided to implement this rule is because of the busts, like Eddy Curry or more notably, Kwame Brown. The NBA decided that high school players aren’t ready physically for the NBA and need at least a year to grow and improve. This lead to many unwilling participants playing college basketball. The NBA wants older, more developed players to come into the league. This rule supposedly helps to decrease the percentage of draft busts.

Arguments have been made that the athletes need to play at a college level before jumping into the most competitive basketball in the world. Great high school basketball players face little challenge at their level and need at least a year before they go to the NBA. This year can help the athletes determine their true NBA stock. Also, some believe the players aren’t mature enough to make that decision on their own.

On the other side, there is the group that says the athlete should be able to decide what they want to do with their future. If the players think they have the skills to make it to the NBA, then they should hire an agent and go to the draft. Personal choice is all that matters. Lebron did it and he’s now the best player in the world, maybe of all time. He was ready to make the move and he did it successfully.

I believe that the one and done rule should be thrown out. This rule makes little sense when comparing it to other sports. Hockey and Baseball have no one and done rule, and especially in baseball, many high school players are drafted and sent into the minor league ranks. Kids at the college age have the maturity to make their own decisions in life and if they want to go pro, of course, so nothing should stop them. If the players fail at making it big at pro levels then its a learning experience for them. They need to know their own skill level compared to the rest of the current players. Many camps and training sessions are available for these players to compete and gauge their skill level.

All recent college has become is elite athletes playing for one year and then going to the draft, which is pointless. Players returning for a second year of college is now considered a red flag in today’s game. If players have a thought they can make it, they almost always go to the draft because staying another year typically hurts their draft cred. Not only that, but college teams have to constantly change what they’re doing because there’s little stability. Especially teams like Kentucky and Duke. They have so many new players coming in each year that they only stick to the basic AAU style of play: hoisting three’s and isolation. This rule has made collegiate basketball into a mockery.

Stan Van Gundy called the NCAA “maybe the worst organization in sports” because of their recent scandals, as well as stating his strong disdain for the one and done rule. He used very colorful language, but he made the correct point. Why can other sports go straight out of high school but not basketball? The real reason is that the NCAA makes money off of these athletes going one and done. If they went straight out of high school, the NCAA would lose out on millions. They care little about the athletes but instead care about what those athletes bring with them: money. Even though the NCAA didn’t create this rule they still reap its benefits.

The NBA thrives off this rule as well, as was intended. Instead of getting virtually untested teenagers, they get the big name players from collegiate basketball or from overseas. This keeps the NBA from making any kind of financial investment into the high school players. It also helps to bolster their ratings and get more views. However, this rule doesn’t guarantee preparedness for the NBA, only that the league will be more informed about its players.

All in all, money is the big key in what the NCAA and NBA do. The one and done is only there to make money and does not keep what the athlete need in mind. This pointless rule needs to be abolished by the NBA so that the players can make their own decisions with their future and not depend on what the NBA wants them to do. Athletes only have a limited amount of time that they can compete at a high level and college is always available at any age if they want the education. Do away with it.