The kids league

By Jason Thomas

The look of the NBA is getting younger every year. As the seasons go by, the players populating NBA rosters are getting younger and richer, as all but the low priced and great playing veterans have been phased out of the league. Heading into this year's version of the NBA Draft, the trend figures to continue.

The NBA currently hosts nine high school players and more than 30% of the league's players left college early. The trend is one that has increased every year since 1990, with an average of at least 15 early entries per draft. Most of the time, teams jump at the chance to take young and talented players, phasing out even great playing seniors in the talent first, ask questions second mentality.

The trend continues to grow every year. In the last three years, the NBA has averaged a minimum of 19 underclassman per draft. There has also been at least one high school player entered in the last four drafts. This year the number sits at an alarming 58 underclassman entered, with six more players coming from the high school ranks. This is a disturbing figure that has many in the NBA offices sitting up and taking notice.

The NBA has long been in favor of an age limit that would eliminate all under second-year college players, and all high school players, completely. However, the players association has stated that this would deny talented players their shot to play with the world's best. According to an NBA league official that we spoke with, the NBA doesn't want to deny talented players, they just don't want their league turning into a day care center.

"We don't want this to be the kids basketball association," said the official, who spoke with Fanstop.com on condition of anonymity. "The look of the league has gotten younger every year and it is alarming. This year, we have more young kids than there are spots in the draft. That is a very sad statement and if it continues, it is going to take the league down with it. The look of the league is already to young and this trend has to stop."

Perhaps the most disturbing thing for the NBA is the position with which the youth is being emphasized. According to current mock drafts, including one done by Fanstop.com, at least five of the six high school players are projected to be taken in the top 13 picks.

There is even talk of taking high school players in three of the top four picks, something that would be unprecedented. The highest a high school player has ever been taken is third, and that happened just last season when the Los Angeles Clippers selected Darius Miles.

And the disturbing trend does not end there. At one basketball tournament that was attended by NBA scouts, a sophomore from Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary's impressed one scout enough that he asked a reporter if the player was 18. The reporter replied that he was 16 and a high school student. The scout then stated that if the player would forgo his final two years in high school, the scout would convince his organization to take the player with a second round pick. And the player was a high school sophomore.

"That is completely absurd," said the official. "What does that say about our league when a scout would say that to someone. That is what is scary about all these younger players coming into the league, because eventually there is going to be pressure from scouts for kids to leave high school early for the NBA. What's going on has to stop, and stop quickly, or this league is going to be in serious trouble."

Of the 58 early entries for this year's draft, 24 are sophomores in college or younger. Most of the names on the list are not the who's who of college basketball. Many of them don't figure to be first round material or even hang onto an NBA roster. This is also disturbing according to the official, as it signifies that the rush is on for big money, which will hurt the college game and the NBA's credibility.

"We can't continue to just have kids throw their name onto a sheet," he said. "If you are a quality sophomore or junior, no question, come to the NBA. However, if you're a freshman entering the NBA and you may not even be drafted, there is something wrong with that. We need to really concentrate on making this a talent issue and not just kids streaming into the NBA looking for money."

The average age of the NBA will drop again next season. Next year, the NBA will look younger than it ever has, and its rosters will be populated with even more young faces and names never before heard.

Is the question one of talent or money? No one really knows that for sure. However, the goal of the NBA has to be a simple one -- make the average age of the NBA rise for one season, instead of watching it continue to fall.

Article courtesy of Fanstop.com