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Wednesday, June 13
Seniors feel 'penalized' for staying in school
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Forget about players leaving too early for the NBA draft. What about seniors staying too long in college? That question will follow Terence Morris into the NBA.
There is little doubt the Maryland senior will be drafted later this month. But he could have helped change an evolving stigma of seniors in future NBA drafts by playing his way into the first round of this year's draft at the Desert Classic last month. Alas, he didn't play well enough and he's likely bound for the second round of the NBA draft instead of the first round or even the lottery -- a promise land he may have landed in two years ago.
|  | | Troy Murphy left a year early, but only after putting together three solid seasons at Notre Dame. |
Had the Maryland senior forward declared after his sophomore season he would have been jockeying with first-round picks like Ron Artest (No. 16) in the 1999 draft. Instead, Morris is hoping to remain ahead of Calvin Bowman somewhere in the second round, adding fuel to an argument that if players stay too long in college their stock will plummet.
"The longer you stay, the more there is a feeling that there is something wrong with you," said Notre Dame junior Troy Murphy, who left after three seasons and is a potential lottery pick later on June 27. "I had a good year after my sophomore year, but I wasn't personally ready. This year there was more and more pressure for me to leave."
The idea of staying in school means dropping in the draft crossed the minds of Murphy's fellow underclassmen who declared for the draft, not to mention the six high school seniors in this year's draft.
But what about the seniors who are fighting for spots in the first two rounds. For them, to stay or not to stay was a question that will dog them as long as there are examples like Morris.
Morris was candid when asked about his situation in Tempe last month. He said he has no regrets with staying. He got to play in the Final Four and earned his degree, something that might not have been as easy. He could still make an impact in the league if he applies himself, even if he's coming in as a second-round pick without a guaranteed contract.
But the draft is more on potential rather than known commodities. That's why high school seniors and their collegiate freshmen and sophomores counterparts will dominate the draft.
"It's almost like you're being penalized for staying longer in school," North Carolina senior Brendan Haywood said. "The longer the NBA takes high school seniors before college seniors then players are going to leave early. The longer you stay, the more they're going to criticize your game. The shorter you stay, the more they'll draft on potential."
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It's almost like you're being penalized for staying longer in school. ... The longer you stay, the more they're going to criticize your game. The shorter you stay, the more they'll draft on potential. ” |
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— Brendan Haywood |
The first round could see as few as eight seniors drafted among the first 27 picks. Haywood, Duke's Shane Battier, Iowa State's Jamaal Tinsley, Arizona's Loren Woods, Georgia Tech's Alvin Jones, Austin Peay's Trenton Hassell, and USC's Brian Scalabrine and Jeff Trepagnier are the only players who "stayed" and figure to be rewarded with guaranteed money.
But the argument that these players have less potential, or have hit a plateau, doesn't wash with Battier.
"Because I'm 22 years old," Battier said. "If you listen to that, to say I've peaked as a basketball player, then you've got to be crazy to believe that. I have a great deal of potential and growth in this game."
The ongoing battle between the high school seniors and the college players on who is more ready for the NBA raged last week in Chicago. The high school seniors were convinced that they could contribute next season. But the college players, especially the ones who stayed three to four seasons, don't even see it as close.
"Guys like myself and Shane Battier have been through four years of the ACC and we know what it's like to take a big step from high school to college," Haywood said. "Look at Shane, he went from being a role player to being a superstar at Duke, but it took time. These (high school guys) are getting thrown into the fire and unfortunately a bunch of them are going to get burned."
Dealing with the pressure situations, having fundamentals and even learning how to play defense, according to Michigan State sophomore Jason Richardson, are all advantages that these college players say makes them more marketable.
"Guys with three or four years of college are more ready to contribute," Villanova junior Michael Bradley said. "We can come in and contribute right away. These 17-18 year old kids might be physically ready. They're very talented and skilled, but we had the experiences of living on our own and dealing with the real world."
Added Murphy, "I'm more mature than other guys in the draft. I've played in big games, can rebound, score and I'm one of the guys who can help out next year."
But Bradley and Murphy are still in the draft a season before their eligibility expired because they're riding off a successful season.
"It's like the stock market, when the stocks are high you've got to try and get into the league," Bradley said. "I had a good year, I'm close to graduating and it all combined for me to try my luck."
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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