One and all done? High-profile coaches say change needed

SARASOTA, Fla. -- For one night in May, it was the basketball capital of the world.

More than 40 coaches, from Roy Williams to Rick Barnes to Bill Self to Bob Knight to Billy Donovan, gathered at the Ritz Carlton on Saturday for a Dick Vitale gala to raise money for the V Foundation for cancer research.

Bob Knight isn't coaching at the moment. That doesn't stop him from sounding off on the 'one and done' rule. (Getty Images)

There was much talk of $70 million the foundation has awarded in research grants, but there was also talk of basketball. If you thought the "one-and-done" topic was put to bed, it is still completely wide awake. And the man who would benefit from it the most is adamantly opposed.

"I don't want an 18-year-old kid," said Pat Riley, whose Miami Heat will have the best chance to win the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery Tuesday night (and will do no worse than No. 4). Among Riley's options could be Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley, freshmen who declared after one year. "I don't want to baby sit someone. I prefer a player with maturity, one who's at least 20 years old."

In 2006, the NBA and the players association hammered out the rule -- the player must be at least one year out of high school and turn 19 during the calendar year of the draft to be eligible -- because the league wanted to keep young players from just sitting on the bench and failing to grow as both a player and a person. But almost everyone agrees it isn't working.

"It's one of the worst things to happen to college basketball," said Bob Knight, who actually cares about academics. "The reality is that a player only has to earn a 1.0 grade average to be eligible, and by second semester, he's not even interested. What kind of integrity is that?"

Many feel the baseball model would work best -- either sign a pro contract out of high school or commit to college for at least two years.

"Something has got to be done," said Billy Donovan, the Florida Gators' two-time national champion coach. "There are agents running around high schools."

Tom Crean, who left Marquette to coach Indiana, is also against the rule.

"It's well intentioned," said Crean, "but it doesn't work. I say let them go out of high school."

The NBA, of course, is glad to be out of the high-school hustle. The league grew tired of having to evaluate every player at every summer camp, plus NCAA basketball provides tremendous exposure. Everyone saw Rose drive Memphis to the national championship game, the infamous O.J. Mayo elevate USC basketball and Beasley put Kansas State in the national spotlight.

"Have you noticed, no one has asked the players?" asked Texas coach Rick Barnes, who had Kevin Durant, who was Player of the Year before going to the NBA after one year in college. "They think they're ready for the NBA out of high school, and a couple of them are.

"It's very complicated for the coach. You have to decide if it's worth it to have a great player for one year, like Carmelo Anthony, or if it will completely disrupt the program afterwards. Commissioner David Stern and the NBA Players Association should insist on at least two years."