Every year the debate rages on about at what stage young basketball players will be ready to move on to the professional ranks and compete in the NBA. For some, the trip is one that is made right after high school. For others, at least one year of college ball has them on the radar to be among the top selections in the NBA draft. A select group of sports betting services prognosticators feel as though players should spend at least a couple of years at the college ranks before they are ready to move up to the big league. But with no rule in place, the fact remains that several freshman will enter this year’s draft as some of the top talent available. That includes a pair of Kentucky Wildcats’ freshman in Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones, who have been told by head coach John Calipari that he feels as though their NBA futures would be bright. There is a catch however, as Calipari also feels that if they don’t garner the attention that they deserve in the draft they should consider heading back to Lexington for at least one more pay per head year.
Knight and Jones were two of the key factors in the Wildcats’ run to the Final Four in 2011, a trip that ended with a tough loss to a talented Connecticut Huskies’ team in Houston. Calipari has dealt with a ton of players that have moved on from his school after just one year and has always been supportive, and that won’t change in this situation. However, the veteran coach has warned both players to consider not taking on an agent, something that will prevent them from having the betting services chance to change their mind and return to the college ranks. Calipari pointed out the obvious threat of a lockout that could be on the horizon in the NBA, with the association’s current collective bargaining agreement set to expire at the end of this June. Everybody has watched the ongoing saga between the National Football League and its players over the past couple of months, and the pressure that has been put on the players set to enter the league’s draft, and that is something that no college basketball player wants to be a part of at this stage.
Knight averaged 17.3 points per game and 4.1 assists this season and hit game-winning shots against the Princeton Tigers and Ohio State Buckeyes to help the Wildcats to the NCAA Final Four. Meanwhile, Jones set a freshman-record with 35 points against Auburn during the regular season, and was a solid complimentary presence alongside Knight. Both players will be guaranteed to go in the first round when the draft gets underway, the biggest problems will be how high and when they will have the opportunity to sign their first contract. Still, despite the obstacles in their way, both Jones and Knight are expected to head to the NBA.
Knight and Jones were two of the key factors in the Wildcats’ run to the Final Four in 2011, a trip that ended with a tough loss to a talented Connecticut Huskies’ team in Houston. Calipari has dealt with a ton of players that have moved on from his school after just one year and has always been supportive, and that won’t change in this situation. However, the veteran coach has warned both players to consider not taking on an agent, something that will prevent them from having the betting services chance to change their mind and return to the college ranks. Calipari pointed out the obvious threat of a lockout that could be on the horizon in the NBA, with the association’s current collective bargaining agreement set to expire at the end of this June. Everybody has watched the ongoing saga between the National Football League and its players over the past couple of months, and the pressure that has been put on the players set to enter the league’s draft, and that is something that no college basketball player wants to be a part of at this stage.
Knight averaged 17.3 points per game and 4.1 assists this season and hit game-winning shots against the Princeton Tigers and Ohio State Buckeyes to help the Wildcats to the NCAA Final Four. Meanwhile, Jones set a freshman-record with 35 points against Auburn during the regular season, and was a solid complimentary presence alongside Knight. Both players will be guaranteed to go in the first round when the draft gets underway, the biggest problems will be how high and when they will have the opportunity to sign their first contract. Still, despite the obstacles in their way, both Jones and Knight are expected to head to the NBA.
