An Argument for Prep-to-Pro Pt. 1

Posted by Caleb Hicks on November 05, 2009

The Last Prep
This is part one of a three part series looking at the effects of the decisions by athletes regarding education. In Part 1, we will argue on behalf of athletes who choose to put sports over education. In Part 2, we will look at why athletes should embrace education at all costs. In the final segment, we will determine which side carries more weight. Commenters will be key in deciding the victor, so choose a side, stake your claim, and make yourself heard.

What do CJ Miles, Jermaine O’Neal, Kwame Brown, and Kevin Garnett have in common? Besides the fact that any one of them would stick out like a sore thumb in Provo, they all entered the Pros straight out of high school. They’re living the dream of high school ballers around the country – go pro, make the big bucks, and live like a rockstar. Hey, it worked for Kobe, Lebron, and Dwight, why wouldn’t it work for High School Senior, Jboy Skinny?

Al Jefferson, drafted straight out of high school in 2004, shared those feelings. “I always felt that I was going to be someone that had a chance to come straight out of high school to go to the NBA,” Jefferson said, “Kobe (Bryant) did it. (Kevin) Garnett did it. I felt that I was going to do it too.”

Jefferson is currently playing with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and is scheduled to make over $12,000,000 this year alone. Did he make it? I’d say so.

Strictly economically speaking, these players are going to contribue most to society by succeeding in the pros, cashing multi-million dollar paychecks, spending that money all over the place, and entertaining sports fans around the world. Strongly gifted athletes have no better choice for themselves, for their families, and for the sports-loving society that we live in, than to go pro, education be damned.

Some Pro-Education activists argue that all students should focus on an education, because after all, most athletes will be going pro in something other than sports. I say hogwash. Taking 4 years of earning power from a gifted athlete is not only anticapitalistic, it is downright inhumane. It’s not like a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences or Exercise Science is going to create a better life for these superstars. At a minimum of nearly $460,000, the salary for an NBA benchwarmer is more than I’d make in 100 years of teaching at a high school. And the minimum salary jumps to $855,000 by year 4! Who are we to take away nearly $3,000,000 from an athlete by forcing him to go learn about ionic bonds, factoring equations, and the stages of mitosis for four years. I could live like a king for the rest of my life on half of that starting salary.

In the end, we live in a society that places a high premium on entertainment. High quality professional basketball is in high demand, and for that, the NBA needs the best players on the planet. Whether those players are 18 or 45, get them on the court. Preferably in a Jazz uniform.

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What do you think? Do you agree? Or am I completely off my rocker? Should gifted athletes focus on honing their talent and making it big? Or are they better off focusing their education? Sound off in the comments section, and who knows? You just may get featured in the next segment of Education and Professional Sports.

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Kory on November 05, 2009 said:

Hey Caleb, I see where you are going with this, BUT I don’t completely agree that these supposed unproven superstars should land those HUGE contracts right out of high school. A leauge minimum would be plenty and the bonuses could come after being proven for a year or two.

How would you feel paying Odam or Griffin that much for what they gave back to their teams the first year in the league. On the other hand, would have these guys been more beneficial (and healthy) had they entered right out of HS?

Caleb Hicks on November 05, 2009 said:

@Kory

I think that first-rounders typically have bigger pay per bust ratio in the NFL than the NBA. But you’re right, a league minimum is the best way to approach young newcomers into the league. $500,000 is enough to get by on for the first couple of seasons, right?

The main point I try to convey is that it’s hard for us to say “Look, you’re a great player. But you know what? You need to go to college before we’re allowed to play you.” If a player earns a spot in the NBA, he shouldn’t be held back by arbitrary rules, especially when we’ve seen successes like Kobe, Lebron, and others. Even our own CJ Miles.

What do you think?

John Richards on November 06, 2009 said:

If these players DO end up going to college then let’s talk truth, they will most likely end up majoring in exercise science, like Caleb said, because their priorities are off. Why rob a player of their prime, young years? They could go earn the minimum, stash a bit away, and then when their knee blows out, THEN they can go back to school when their priorities will be straight and will study what is important.

When is the better time to go to school? When you’re a distracted 18-22 yr old wondering why in the world you didn’t enter the NBA draft earlier, or after you have already earned enough to survive and can contribute more to your own education and the rest of society?

Also, from the interviews I’ve seen and the articles about his charity work, LeBron is a young guy with his head on straight. He seems to be doing a lot more for basketball, kids, and the world in general than a lot of the other players that took the college route.

Jared on November 06, 2009 said:

Most people go to college to get a degree so that they can get a job. If someone can get paid insanely large amounts of money without college, I think that it is totally stupid to act like somehow they are not doing the right thing. How good an education to college athletes really get anyway? It seems to me that the college system exploits the athletes to fill stadiums for no pay. There isn’t anything more honorable about being exploited. In my mind the only ones arguing the other side are the ones who feel that the social status of being a college grad is a big deal. Even if the player washes out and only gets 400k for a couple of years before being back were he started. He can always go to college and get a degree then.

Caleb Hicks on November 06, 2009 said:

@Jared

For an example of your point, look at CJ Miles. Not that he’s a bust, but let’s just say that he never fully recovers from his hand injury this year. He steps out on the court, and never makes another shot in his life. He plays through the end of the year, and no team ever signs him again.

The guy will still have made more than I may make in my entire lifetime. Period.

Linda on November 06, 2009 said:

Have to disagree (to a degree) Many who sign right after high school could very well use a year or so to mature and to play some college ball. I have no glorious idea that a college graduate is any more than someone who didn’t go to colege but in most cases (there are a few very mature exceptions) they need that bit of maturing and maybe a business class or two about handling money. How many kids just out of high school have any idea how to wisely take care of that kind of money? Too many times the money is the whole thing and not the love of ball. I would bet that not many start out saving any of the big bucks.

Kory on November 06, 2009 said:

Caleb, i see what your saying. No I don’t believe that everyone should experience college, but I’m not a fan of the professional athlete pay structure….

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