The annual High School McDonald’s All-American game is a reminder to fans of the state of college basketball. The majority of athletes playing in this game will utilize the ever-so controversial one-and-done rule to pursue their NBA dreams and rightfully so. The system is broken. The breaking point arrived long ago but a recent FBI investigation showing the world the scandal behind college basketball’s most elite talent has forced the hands of the powerful NCAA to move into swift action. The one-and-done era is dying a slow death as rule changes are imminent and there are also lucrative opportunities to make money playing overseas. Not to mention the NBA developmental league making strides to attract young talent. College basketball is at a point of parity not seen in decades. The number one ranking has switched an astounding 6 times already and we are not yet in January. Why?
The aforementioned FBI Investigation brought a lot of ugly details to light. The results were eye-opening yet not unexpected. The bureau focused on 5 distinct assistant coaches, all whom paid players handsomely as part of the recruiting process. It wasn’t only coaches, and boosters, but also major shoe companies getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Undoubtedly the investigation was a substantial black eye to the NCAA and their attempts to make the game cleaner. The president of this institution, Mark Emmert, is still actively meeting with congress about the gravity of corruption in college sports. In fact, he is going to heavily lean on federal aid in attempt clean up the mess the institution is facing. The crack-down has already started and slowly but surely programs will be less risky in their use of rule-breaking tactics to woo recruits to their school. Due to this, the era of the dominant one-and-done freshman team is over. Kentucky, and Duke led the way during this era by compiling 1stround pick after 1stround pick to play together and form college’s version of a super team. The era will die a slow death while the powers that be work on dismantling the one-and-done rule and improving upon it.
The game is changing. Duke, Kentucky, Arizona, and Hardaway led Memphis are still at the forefront in amassing skilled freshman with immediate NBA aspirations on the same team. Accomplishing this and winning a championship is becoming much more difficult to achieve. Teams littered with veteran players are now overtaking the youngsters and bringing us back to a time where Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors dominate the NCAA basketball landscape. Top programs may start to ditch their one-and-done strategies and begin to develop their roster over time. This involves projecting a recruit’s abilities and coaching them to buy in to your system. Virginia comes to mind as a school who has wholeheartedly adapted this approach. Arizona, on the other hand, has not. Which team construct is better? The Freshman Super Team or Veteran Experienced Team?
This debate is incredibly difficult as each and every team is constructed uniquely and should be treated as such. For example, the 2012 Kentucky Wildcats were so talented, that experience was not factor. While the most recent champion relied on veteran leadership mixed with a dynamic sophomore named DeAndre Hunter. In examining the past decade of national champions in college hoops, which many consider the prime of the one-and-done era, you will see a pattern. Since 2009, four freshman dominated-teams hoisted the championship trophy all before 2016. The 2011 UConn Huskies, 2012 Kentucky Wildcats, 2015 Duke Blue Devils, and the 2016 Villanova Wildcats. From the previous decade, six veteran-laden teams won it all. In fact, the last 3 champions have featured teams not constructed through talented freshman. A trend is beginning to form and I am willing to take the field against Duke, Kentucky, Memphis or Arizona this season. The one-and-done era is being shuffled out. It is time to focus on building and developing your team the old-fashioned way. Parity ensues