NCAA Basketball: Is "One & Done" bad for the sport?

What are the implications of the one-and-done trend in college basketball, and is there any way it'll ever be changed? Don't get your hopes up. What are some of the downsides to what is becoming the new fad in college basketball.

There are no rules against it, so blaming the Kentucky Wildcats for what they're doing would be misplaced and unfair.

The rules are what they are, and the Wildcats are playing fair, playing well, and winning championships.

No one can argue with the results. You can hate all you want, but you also have to respect what Coach John Calipari has managed to create in Lexington. College basketball is a business and Calipari is the best CEO around.

First it was John Wall, then Brandon Knight, then Anthony Davis as well as five of the championship team's other best players. Soon it will be Nerlens Noel, who recently committed to Kentucky and is sure to be a lottery pick the year after.

Money KOs education

Sure, many of us would prefer to see these young athletes learn the game and grow into their bodies throughout college, but that's far from reality these days.

These kids are seeing dollar signs and the prospects of those million-dollar pads and fancy cars far outweigh those of getting a legitimate education.

The rule first came about in 2006 when the NBA decided you only have to be at least 19 years old or one year removed from high school to play at the highest level. Ever since, the college game has basically become the minor leagues of basketball.

This is a sport in which the coaches, school officials, and the like make enormous money, yet the players themselves receive nothing. As a result, the allure of making millions clearly is going to entice those creating the moments we love to watch.

Look at what this controversial rule has done. It's turned these young future superstars into money-grabbers first and basketball players second. Shabazz Muhammad, one of the top prospects in the country, committed to UCLA, which may be surprising to some but really shouldn't be. Yes, UCLA is no Kentucky or North Carolina, but Adidas sponsors the Bruins and Muhammad essentially already has a contract lined up with the company.

The Wildcats, namely Calipari, won't complain though. They got Anthony Davis to join up last year and it certainly helped that Kentucky is a Nike school.

Don't expect any changes

These days, money rules all.

As the seasons go on, fewer and fewer players are staying the course and completing their four years of college. It seems only the least talented players among the bunch do it now. They may say they're doing it to get a degree, but it'd be interesting to see how many of them would keep that kind of thinking if they had the potential to be a lottery pick and subsequent millionaire.

Perhaps a new rule should be implemented to change what's become normal. How many times do we hear about these “potential” stars who jump ship too early and struggle to adjust to life in the NBA? It's becoming more and more common.

Don't be fooled by those cute Student-Athlete awards that you see during television spots. They're just a mirage. Education is secondary to fame and fortune now, and that's a fact. It's also a travesty.

College baseball makes their student-athletes stay for at least three years, giving them much more time to grow into the game and get the one-on-one coaching they need. The players can master the fundamentals and get themselves prepared for what's to come.

Is that the answer? Who knows, but until something is changed there will be plenty of skeptics out there who will continue to trash the rule and what Calipari has done to “exploit” it.

But again, don't blame Calipari. Don't blame him for getting the best recruits and winning games. You'd do it too if you were him. All of us college basketball betting enthusiast surely enjoyed riding his team all seasn long as well.