*FAN SUBMISSION by Charles Kruzits of Catonsville, MD. Follow him on Twitter @kruzindirty.*
The top collegiate basketball players in the country had a difficult decision on hand to make, that is if it hasn’t already been made for them. For those without college eligibility it’s off to their next venture in life which many are hoping includes a long career in the NBA. For underclassmen, it’s a different story. Once you jump into the NBA there’s no turning back and that’s the conundrum.
There’s five notable players that have either declared for the draft or announced they are returning to school.
Courtesy: USA Today
Freshman Nerlens Noel led the 2012 Kentucky recruiting class as the overall top player in the country. The Wildcats had some lofty expectations and failed miserably. Noel was not Anthony Davis 2.0, and lacked the ability to score in the paint. It wasn’t until late in the season that Noel began to lift his team and carry them on his back. Against Ole Miss in late January Noel recorded 12 blocks and lived up to the expectations that were placed on him before he arrived in the college ranks. The following game, against SEC foe Texas A&M, Noel scored 19 points while grabbing 14 rebounds. Noel was finally living up to the expectation and most importantly was the catalyst for the resurging Cats until one awkward landing curtailed his season and any hopes of a joyful season in Lexington.
In a game against Florida, Noel was trailing a Gators player on a fast break and when the 6-10 power forward leaped and blocked the shot but it was his landing that sucked the air out Kentucky’s season. Noel’s left leg bent like a twig and the freshmen fell to the ground in obvious agony. Shortly after the game, news broke announcing that Noel suffered a torn ACL and would require season-ending surgery.
As adamant as I am towards players staying and realizing their potential, this is one of the reasons why players should cash in when their stock is at its highest. Noel will most likely hear his name called first in late June and rightfully so.The 6’10 shot-blocker has amazing athletic ability and will thrive playing in any system. Similar to Davis, Noel lacks the offensive output you look for in a post player; however, along with his speed and work ethic and defensive prowess, Noel will prosper and have a long career in the NBA.
A similar position, but completely different player, Indiana’s Cody Zeller has also declared for the NBA draft. A 7’0 sophomore, Zeller stunned many when he committed to the Hoosiers in spite of the opportunity to play alongside his brother Tyler at North Carolina. The Indiana native was productive in his two seasons at IU but did not reach the lofty expectations that were set when he arrived at Assembly Hall. Zeller averaged 16 points during his time with Indiana but the tenacity and killer-instinct seemed to be missing in his post game. However, Zeller does have a polished scoring game which past big men have not possessed.
Zeller’s decision to forego his two remaining years of eligibility is logical. The collegiate game does not support the post game as it does the perimeter game and factor in that he will be a lottery selection makes it that much easier of a decision. However, Zeller will need to strengthen up and play angry when he steps on the court as a professional. The likes of Dwight Howard, DeMarcus Cousins, Kevin Love and many other big-men in the league will challenge him immediately. I don’t foresee Zeller being a perennial All-Star but he has all of the tools to be a starter. If he can improve his game and be a threat on the defensive block as the Howard’s and Chandler’s of the league he can up his stock and definitely throw his hat into All-Star talk.
Let’s sway from the post talk now shall we? Marcus Smart, a point guard in a linebackers body (6’5 230lbs), put Oklahoma State on the map this year with his Jason Kidd-like ability. A lock to be a top-three pick in the NBA draft, Smart lived up to his last name and returned to school. Though he would have collected a handsome paycheck, his game needs to be crafted some more before he joins the adult league. The Big 12 Player of the Year averaged 15 points a game and four assists while also bringing home the Wayman Tisdale award given to the most outstanding freshman.
I’ll join the many and say I was shocked when he announced his return to play at least one more season for the Cowboys.
Smart addressed the neigh-sayers while speaking to the press of his decision saying, “”But I think I made the right decision.” All that was telling me, from those people that said that, is they don’t have confidence in my ability and my game to compete with those players next year. You guys have given me that confidence to do that, so I chose to stay here. I’m aware of how much money I am giving up.”
Smart’s decision will give scouts one more season to dissect his game which could turn out to be a negative. However, if Smart is able to transcend his game and work on crafting his jumper, he could land a higher draft spot in next year’s class if he decides to leave for the NBA. One of the reasons that Smart’s decision was heavily scrutinized is due to the overwhelming talent in this year’s class of incoming high school seniors.
Led by super-talents Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, the incoming class is guard heavy and will increase the already exciting college game. But, Smart has already been through the wringer and the fresh batch of soon-to-be freshmen will be tested and will go through the same growing pains that previous freshmen have. Also, it’s worth noting that Smart is a student-athlete. It’s obvious that being a Division I athlete, especially in a sport such as basketball, is more of a full-time job that requires the utmost dedication. Graduating still remains the sole purpose of going to college, because when basketball is over, your life moves on. The longer he stays in college equates to more time in classrooms and more time honing his ability.
Also a freshman, UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad decided that one year in college was enough for him. In just one season for the Bruins, Muhammad brought in All-Pac-12 first team honors and voted co-Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors. Muhammad averaged 18 points a contest in his lone season under former Bruins coach Ben Howland.
The Bruins boasted five of the top 60 freshmen in the country however their inexperience proved costly as they were bounced out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament by Tubby Smith and the Minnesota Gophers. Muhammad didn’t help the cause as he shot 6-18 from the field as well as 0-6 from beyond the three. Despite the team’s shortcomings, Muhammad proved that he is NBA ready. Tipping the scales at 225 pounds, possibly more, Muhammad is a grown man and will not be pushed around when it comes time to brush shoulders with the pros.
His best game came in late December against the then-seventh ranked Missouri Tigers. Shabazz poured in 27 buckets while shooting 10-19 from the field to go along with 3-6 from downtown as the Bruins shocked the Tigers 97-94 in overtime. Muhammad’s offensive game doesn’t need questioning, it’s the defensive side of the ball where he needs to make improvement. With his Carmelo-like build, Shabazz will be asked to play small forward which means taking the task of guarding Lebron James, Kevin Durant and the aforementioned Carmelo Anthony.
Needless to say, Muhammad will need to step his game up if he wants to be an elite performer in the bigs. As great as Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and LBJ are/was at scoring the basketball, it was their stalwart ability on the defensive side that placed them above their peers.
With all of that said however, the NBA, along with other major sports, drafts on potential. Muhammad has the potential to put up big numbers in the points category which in turn will ensure he’ll be one of the first to shake hands with David Stern.
The last prospect to round out my top five comes from the Michigan Wolverines and their steady guard Trey Burke. Despite one heck of a roller-coaster season from the Wolverines, Burke was Mr. Consistent as his ability to score the basketball and put others in position to score catapulted Men from Michigan to an appearance in the National Championship game. Burke’s stellar sophomore campaign was rewarded with the most prestigious award a college player can earn, the Wooden Trophy, which goes to the most outstanding player in Division I basketball.
The 6’0 guard averaged 18.6 points and seven assists during his second season in Ann Arbor. Burke might not possess the prototypical attributes that runs the hardwood in today’s NBA. But, the U-M standout will provide a club the much-needed floor general to facilitate the offense. His development was stunted in my opinion while playing alongside Tim Hardaway Jr., whose game replicates his gunner-style play that his father possessed during his time in the league.
When he had the ball Burke made plays. If that was driving to the hoop for contested layups or kicking out to wing men for open looks, Burke made the offense for John Beilein run smoothly. As a Philadelphian, I cringe while saying this but he does play with a similar style to the man they once called the “Answer.” Allen Iverson could score the ball against anyone, if you don’t believe me you should Youtube the clip in which he made Michael Jordan look novice.
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
Back to Burke. Ohio’s Mr. Basketball and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Burke’s shelf is being filled with important hardware and rightfully so. You can dissect his game down to every last minute but he has a blue-collar approach on the floor. He gets the job done; it may not be as flashy as other guards in the NBA but it’s effective. The film that should be closely examined is the last game he played in the maize blue. Against Louisville in the National Championship game, Burke played lights out.
Against two of the best guards in the country, Russ Smith and Peyton Siva, the Wooden award winner dropped 24 points while hitting 3-5 from long. His counterparts didn’t have quite the productivity. Siva and Smith combined for 27 points while shooting a dreadful nine of 31 from the field. However, the ‘Cards as a team outplayed the Wolverines on their way to winning the Championship by a score of 82-76.
If he had announced his return to Michigan, the Wolverines would have been slated as the preseason favorites. However, his stock skyrocketed from his freshman to sophomore campaign. As the song goes, “If it don’t make dollars then it don’t make sense.” That’s the thought process for Burke and aforementioned prospects.
Though I’ve made contrasting-points throughout the article, the decisions for these players shouldn’t be scrutinized nor criticized. Smart was the only player to return to school, while the other four have thrown their name into the NBA hat. Spending more time in the classroom or getting paid to play the game you love, these prospects all made the best decisions. The only scenario where this situation can go awry is if Smart doesn’t take his classes seriously or the other four become complacent once they entered the league.
