An NBA draft story -- choose-your-own-adventure

Remember in elementary school, sitting down in a quiet corner with your newly purchased book -- an exciting, choose-your-own-adventure you just bought at the book fair? Having the ability to choose the right or wrong path could prove fortuitous or perilous for your hero/heroine of each tale. Think you could go back in time and choose the right path once more?

Here is the tale of Eddie Poor. At a young age Eddy was blessed with the God-given ability to hover with the angels, above the rim. He has quick feet, a strong head on his shoulders, and a pistol-quick release that allows him to create his own shot and score in gridlock-like situations in the post.

Growing up as a young boy, Eddie was able to create quite a stir on the local neighborhood courts as he was able to score on the most famed hustlers and ballers from all over town. The older he got, the more and more bodies he filled in the high school gymnasium, watching him dunk, and shoot the three over hapless defenders. Once the collegiate coaches began mulling around the seats, people knew he was going places. Eddy seemed to be at the top of his game and just like Cagney's Cody Jarrett, Eddy felt that it was "top of the world."

Without much financial cache, Eddy was fortunate to be able to go to a great university based on his basketball ability. He went to college at the best basketball university in the country and banged bodies with the best of the best in his brutal b-ball conference. Eventually, with more advanced tutelage, Eddy's low-post performance grew more and more prosperous and during his sophomore year, he was putting up some of the best numbers in the country.

That was when the whispers began about Eddy's thoughts turning towards NBA glory. He was slowly proving dominant in his competitive conference and whispers of millions began to circulate in his head. He was starting to hit his peak and there was talk of All-Conference and All-American merits coming his way. Back at home, Eddy's single mom was getting sick and she was taking more and more time off work. Frequent visits to the doctor's office were all too common and yet she was spending much money on doctor bills she couldn't pay.

With many options and issues swirling around Eddy's head, the question was: at the end of the year, should he forgo his last two years of sheltered college life and head towards the valley of the dollars in the NBA?

(To keep Eddie in the college for his junior season read section number one - to send Eddie packing towards the NBA, skip this section and read section number two.)

1: Just when Eddie seemed ready to join up with the flock of wolves, also known as NBA agents, he started second-guessing himself. He was showing tremendous upside and was putting up some of the best numbers in the conference, but it was just too early to take flight. He realized he wasn't totally mature and needed to improve his ball handling skills. While he was a gritty post player, he knew he had a lanky, undersized frame that would get him into considerable trouble rubbing elbows with the power pack of forwards in the NBA. Besides his further needed development, he was still a kid, having fun partying in school with his teammates and friends. He was dating many girls and was enjoying the social scene that came with being a stud college player. Aside from the skill and social fun, he was still pretty close to home and he could travel back and fourth to see his mother who was having some health issues. The money was tight at home, but Eddie's mom promised that the insurance would take the heavy brunt of the check. Eddie Poor just needed to stay around for his junior year -- it made the most sense.

With a little more prep and study time at school, Eddy matured into a smart young man. As for basketball, he became the top player in the country and won All-American, and All-Conference awards. His mother got better and he kept his promise to stay in school. While the pressure intensified after his junior season, he ignored all the agents and the NBA scouts and kept his face in the books. His senior year, he was far-and-away the top player in the country and won the Wooden Award as the nation's top player in leading his team to a national championship. He listened to what the scouts said he needed to do to improve as a pro and he molded his body into a pro forward frame. He worked on his quickness and shot selection and spent hours in the gym on his ball handling skills. He was close to 23 now and got that diploma but when it came towards the NBA draft, people said he was going to be another Shane Battier. No one knew where he was going to go as many young freshmen and sophomores were entering the draft and the scouts said that could push Eddy's position close towards the back end of the lottery. Eventually, he was taken ninth overall, locking himself up with a five-to-six million-dollar deal. People said he lost millions by not coming out early but he was still a millionaire and earned a college degree. Besides, he had matured as an adult and wasn't a behavioral concern for his NBA organization. He had been responsible enough to understand his weaknesses and meshed his body into a muscular frame. He was happy, mature, and rich. At the end of the year, Eddie won rookie of the year and was going to be a solid player for years to come.

(If you want Eddie to leave school early - read here)

2: Regardless of the further-development needed to be a fruitful NBA player, Eddie couldn't resist the money and ventured towards the pros. While his mother was too sick to attend draft night with him, Eddie knew the money he would soon be landing would help her get better with top-notch health care. After traveling around and working out for many teams, he was touted for a lottery selection. While he was a little skinny to be a dominant forward, he possessed the "upside" scouts looked for in athletic big men and Eddie was drafted with the third pick in the draft, locking up close to nine-million dollars. He didn't get that diploma his mother wanted him to get, but there was always time. He could possibly take part-time courses and get his degree. He assured her he would eventually return to school and meanwhile, showered her with millions for a new house, a new car, and the best physicians and health-care to cure her lingering illness. Things looked outstanding for the future of Eddie Poor - that is until he got in trouble in the off-season.

Bestowing millions upon a 19 year-old can be a risky proposition as Eddy's employers soon discovered. While he was too young to drink, he was arrested for starting to brawl inside a local club. Not only was he drunk but he had been caught in a 21-and-up nightspot and had started a fight with a few guys over a woman. Charges were brought up and scorn and media scrutiny swept over the youngster as the organization demanded a public apology. The talk focused on the kid's immaturity to stay away from trouble now that he was a public figure. Matters didn't help much on the court either.

While the media had made Eddy Poor the butt of thousands of jokes, his nighttime shenanigans had brought much pressure on himself to perform and avoid the jeers. While his mother did get much better with the proper healthcare, she was trying to help him right his image although there was only so much she could do while he traveled all around the country with the team. However, during his second month as a pro, he was injured going for a jump ball and his lanky frame buckled underneath him, tearing his ACL. Eddy was lost for the season and the media scorn intensified. People questioned him coming out so soon and he was becoming a poster child for the kids who jump too soon just to get their hands on the riches and fame that comes with being a star. Some anonymous sources said he didn't prep himself for the appropriate NBA condition and was too weak to bang with the best in the league.

The following year, Eddie came back but he was lost in the shuffle. His body was still too thin and he was never given much of a chance on the court. While talk was surfacing about unloading his contract the following season, he tore his ACL again and was lost again. It was a forgone conclusion that he was going to get axed in the off-season. Eddie became an NBA journeyman and wasn't given much of a chance elsewhere. He was too brittle and immature to handle the NBA level. Now, he was unemployed and didn't even own a college degree.

Closing thoughts: Every case is different. Some kids need to leave school to help family and friends avoid the clutches of poverty. Some middle-class kids just leave school early as they think they are ready for the next level. Some are ready and some aren't. Some will eventually be ready and some won't ever get off the pine. All cases must be carefully thought out and all options explored before taking a road that could prove all too costly in the future. Every case is different and everyone has their own adventure to explore; here's just hoping all avenues are thought out before making a costly mistake to ruin the life of an Eddie Poor.