College offers rewards, not risks: the coaches call themselves the 'Guardians of the Game' but right now that's an empty slogan

Between sessions at the Reebok ABCD Camp last week, I was dining with one of the most accomplished Division I coaches when he posed this question: If you're a top 10 prospect in high school, why would you go to college now? Why would you risk getting exposed?

The answer is simple. The real risk for any truly gifted U.S.-based prospect is not going to college. And it is long overdue for the NCAA or the National Association of Basketball Coaches--or both--to begin a campaign ensuring that message is more widely disseminated.

NCAA basketball's track record in preparing prospects for the NBA is unmatched. But no one with a vested interest in the college game seems committed to spreading that word, even with the NBA now requiring players to be 19 and one year removed from high school graduation before entering the draft.

Here's the truth:

* The greatest players in history--Russell, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, Bird, Johnson, Jordan, O'Neal--all competed in college.

* In the 2005 NBA conference finals, of the 30 players who averaged at least 10 minutes, 26 were U.S. products. Of those, only the Suns' Amare Stoudemire didn't attend college. The other 25 played at least two years of college ball.

* Of the 65 U.S. products in the NBA who made at least $7 million last season, 60 played in college and 55 played at least two seasons.

* Of the top 24 selections in the 2005 NBA draft, 11 competed in the NCAA Final Four.

Instead of forcefully delivering these messages, college coaches and administrators allow myths to flourish--myths that lead players into foolish decisions. It was not an agent who convinced Florida's Matt Walsh to enter the draft, where he went unselected. It was his own impatience, fortified by the mistaken impression that players who play four college seasons are devalued in the draft.

The record proves that false. Channing Frye, Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison and Luke Jackson were recent lottery picks. They were lottery picks because of their senior seasons.

But at last week's annual meeting, the NABC focused on minutiae, such as asking members to cease canceling games for which they had signed contracts.

And members debated whether to give players less time to decide about leaving college early and declaring for the draft. That would be an absurd decision. It wouldn't help college coaches recruit replacements because they wouldn't find a suitable substitute for Brandon Bass or John Gilchrist in April. The change simply would reduce stress on coaches.

It's an amazing paradox, isn't it? College coaches do so much to make the game better, and sometimes it seems they're not even trying.

INSIDE DISH

Wake Forest recruit Jamie Skeen, a forward from Huntersville, N.C., showed terrific athleticism and a nice 3-point touch at the Reebok ABCD Camp. Plus, two of the Deacons' three backcourt commitments stood out at the Nike All-American Camp. Anthony Gurley of Newton, Mass., has a smooth stroke and can get to the rim. L.D. Williams of Montverde, Fla., is long and should help improve the team's defense. The third, PG Ishmael Smith of Concord, N.C., excelled at the NBA Top 100 Camp last month. * Rutgers' decision to hire ace recruiter Fred Hill as an assistant might pay its greatest dividends with the junior class, but he also is making a stir with New Jersey seniors. F Lance Thomas is discussing the possibility of joining G Earl Clark and C Derrick Caracter in what would be a program-changing package. Still, it's likely all three will choose their schools separately. * Former Kansas SF J.R. Giddens did not waste much time in selecting New Mexico as the destination for his final two college seasons. * N.C. State is looking to complete its recruiting class with a point or combo guard--possibly Matt Bouldin of Highlands Ranch, Colo., or Greivis Vasquez of Montrose Christian Academy in Rockville, Md. The Wolfpack already has commitments from smooth SG Larry Davis of New York and F Dan Werner of Lincroft, N.J. * Gonzaga PG Derek Raivio fared amazingly well in a matchup against former Zags All-American and current New Orleans Hornet Dan Dickau during the Bulldogs' team camp. Raivio is gaining strength. * New York PF Curtis Kelly, a Connecticut recruit, is one of the most dynamic inside players in the class of 2006, but he limped around the Nike Camp on two injured ankles. He had moments of effectiveness and played hard but probably should have rested.

(S) Got a recruiting question about your team? E-mail it to Mike Decourcy, then look for his answer in his mailbag at sportingnews.com/cbasketball.

MIKE DeCOURCY

decourcy@sportingnews.com

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