How Long After High School is Enough?

One of the questions out there since Kentucky's NCAA Championship run is:  How long should these Future Pros stay in College? Itr's a good one.  Baseball allows kids to sign right outa high school . however if they chose to enter college, they must stay 3 years.  Football maintains your high school class must be out three years. Basketball says one year after their high school class graduates, eliminating the Lebron James & Kobe Bryant straight outa high school.  Hockey is different because most of these "kids" enter & play in semi-pro leagues while still in high school.  Other pro sports take em whenever.  Aka the 13 year old pro soccer player.

Like anything in education, it's a matter of readiness.  Not necessarily a readiness to play the pro game but a readiness for the Pro Life?  Jim Boeheim said, when asked about Carmelo Anthony's One & Done,  heck  college is where you go to find a career /job.  He found a job in one year.

I want to concentrate on the issue of a readiness for the Pro Life. Do these kids know what to expect.....really?  All the MONEY.....FAME........& what comes with it?  The Reality & Rigger of the daily schedule?  The Temptations that go with the Pro Life?  Is it a wonder of the stories of a woman in every city, children by a multitude of mothers, drug problems, gun problems, & in some cases money problems.  Read the papers or internet.  The stories of their behaviors.  The things they say?  What would you say if you had a camera or microphone stuck in your face 24/7?    The news is filled daily with stories about some pro athlete doing or saying something wrong.  Is it a wonder?

Have they had time to really grow up?  Have they been taught how to deal & manage a pro life?  The successes? The failures?  I hear that some counseling is available when they sign their pro deal.  But wouldn't it be better if they were allowed to GROW UP.  I suggest a minumum of 3 years removed from high school before they can sign a pro contract.  Let them grow up.  Whether it be three years in college or in a developmental league of some sort .  Where there is some teaching going on.   There is so much to be learned in college. Many of us grew up while going to college.  We learned how to manage & budget & live.   Let these kids do the same.  The pros & colleges need to get together to make this work.  More of these pro athletes will have more normal & successful lives, not just careers.  In the end....Everybody Wins.