As usual, Whitlock has a point!

And, even if I don't agree with his solution, you have to agree that the whole sham that is college basketball is a silly and unwise arrangement.

Here's a better idea. Set up a minor league for basketball like the one in Baseball. Oh, let me guess......I can hear the excuses coming already! "They don't have the revenue stream that baseball has....." "Baseball has the antitrust exemption; basketball can't compete the same way baseball can...." "Baseball DOES draft guys right out of high school!".....Ya Di....ya di....ya da!!!!

Uh, baseball, basketball, and football are on nearly even terms when it comes to overall revenue. "Aftermarket" revenue in basketball is much larger than it is in baseball and, even though the baseball season is much longer and the number of home dates is stupid compared to any other sport, the price of a ticket is not nearly as high in baseball. Here's the bottom line. Everyone EXCEPT the universities has come to the realization that some kids are professionals right out of high school and these kids not only don't NEED to go to college to earn a good living, they'd just as soon skip it and go right to work, so to speak. We don't force the student population at large into college.....why do we insist that athletes do it? Minor leagues work in baseball; why can't they work in football and basketball?

The owners don't WANT them to work, that's why! Why on earth would they pony up the cash to start up player development leagues when they've got the good old NCAA to do it for them? When we STOP leaving it up to the toothless NCAA to enforce it's antiquated rules and make it illegal to entice amateur athletes into professional contracts, then and only then will the pro leagues look at developmental programs for player development and the OJ Mayos of the world will disappear!