Courtesy: maxpreps.com
Andrew Wiggins is not living the life of a basketball superstar. Instead, he’s sleeping in a dorm room, eating at the dining hall and attending the infamous 8:30 A.M. classes.
While most collegiate superstars endure a similar lifestyle, Wiggins shouldn’t and the NBA and NCAA need to fix this issue.
News spread like wildfire that Adidas will offer the most-hyped prospect in years a deal that would have Wiggins’ grandkids, grandkids living comfortable. The shoe company is reportedly going to offer the Kansas Jayhawk a 10-year contract worth roughly $140-$180 million.
Wiggins has the physical prowess to play right now in the NBA. Though most times I argue a player should attend college and better their game, why should Wiggins have to lose out on such a lucrative payday?
It’s not a secret that Wiggins will be a one-and-done, my Mother knew that. What makes this decision scary is the dreaded “I” word. Who’s to say that Wiggins doesn’t severely injure his knee or suffer a freak-accident that could ultimately change his ability?
Wiggins is a unique prospect, he’s said to have the strengths of the all-time greats. His game undoubtedly will translate to the professional ranks however he’s faced with a stopgap known as college basketball.
The NBA isn’t a game for teens, it’s for grown-ass men. Similar to the NFL, the physical play can turn a teen-phenom into a boy scout. A simple solution for players that wish to bypass college for the professional ranks: board of directors.
This board of directors will be comprised of tenured aficionados, a group of individuals that has the collegiate game and the NBAs best interest at heart. These individuals are able to evaluate talent and most importantly understand what it takes to be a professional. This group would determine if a player is capable of making the jump or needs to go to the collegiate level to enhance their talents.
Wiggins understandably is the exception to the rule, I understand that most high school players are unable to make that jump. The rule is meant to prevent wash-outs and wasted talent but why should Wiggins not be provided the opportunity to prove his value?
By going to play at Kansas the odds are against him. The round-ball experts declared that Wiggins would have handily been selected with the first overall pick in the 2013 draft had he been eligible. This is a high risk/low reward situation. Wiggins cannot improve his stock; he’s already touted the best amateur player in the country. How is this fair to Wiggins?
I know some people don’t want to hear this but it’s simple reality. Wiggins and fellow amateur players may love the sport but the end-all-be-all reason for playing and working their tail off is to sign on the dotted line. The multi-million dollar signing bonus, long term contracts and endorsement deals are the reasons why these guys play the game.
This can be said for any human being, those not playing a professional sport. While I love what I do for a living, we all have aspirations and dreams. My dream is to provide my family with the best lifestyle I can and in order to do so I need cash.
Wiggins has spent countless hours in the gym perfecting his craft and he deserves to get what he rightfully deserves. Instead, an injudicious rule is blockading him. By implementing a board of directors these issues will be handled case-by-case not one-for-all.
If this board was available when Sebastian Telfair was around they would have stamped a no on that decision. Same can be said for Robert Swift, a high school washout with what was once said to have endless potential. In the case of Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant, the board would have emphatically said YES!
Wiggins stands 6’8 but has the elusiveness of a speedy-guard such as Allen Iverson while possessing the killer instinct necessary to dropping hefty scoring outbursts. To make matters worse for anyone that opposes Wiggins on the hardwood, he has incredible above-the-rim play.
At the 2012 Lebron James Skills Academy, the vertical leap of the talented cast of amateurs was being measured and video-evidence proves that Wiggins jumped higher than the measuring apparatus on site. Months later Wiggins encountered a measuring device he couldn’t outdo. It was determined that the current Jayhawk had a vertical of ’47 inches. Not only does Wiggins have the ‘it’ factor, he also has the qualities that you can see.
Averaging more than 24-points-per-game and more than 11-rebounds, Wiggins has proven that he is head and shoulders above the competition. With that said, what good will it do to Wiggins to play against inferior talent? Wiggins will surely be at a disadvantage when he first encounters the pro game; all of the great ones experience a similar transition.
But, his game will flourish while being challenged on a nightly basis instead of playing down to his competition at the collegiate level. Wiggins will greatly benefit from playing against the professional level, learning that even his game needs refining.
The NCAA prohibits amateurs from accepting benefits and profiting from their ability. While I agree that collegiate athletics could dismantle if players were being paid during their time on campus, I believe certain athletes should be given the opportunity to challenge themselves and better their game.
Wiggins has one season in the college ranks to uphold his reputation and show the rest of the world what he is capable of. He has a lot riding on this season, more than any college athlete I have ever seen. The writing on the wall tells me that he will perform at the highest level but past mishaps have me preparing for the worst.
This test will be the biggest in his life, he has more than $100 million waiting for him. Will he fold under the pressure or perform as the consummate athlete that many believe he is?
