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Blue Chips
"You know these guys, the ones who are so talented they ultimately decide to forgo the college education and experience in order to turn pro right out of high school."
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By Brandon McFarland
The NBA recently enforced an age limit rule where players eligible to enter the draft would have to be 19 years of age. Those in favor for the age limit say it will help young athletes make the right decision on whether or not they are ready to enter the league. Youth Radio’s Brandon McFarland looks into these blue-chip athletes and shares some perspectives on why these players made the jump to the NBA from high school.
Can you imagine boarding an aircraft and finding out your fresh faced, 19-year-old pilot, while having a natural ability to fly planes, never actually went through piloting school?
Well, translate that into the sports world, and you’re looking at a blue chipper – a young athlete who's recruited by colleges all over the region and the country. You know these guys, the ones who are so talented they ultimately decide to forgo the college education and experience in order to turn pro right out of high school.
High School athletes exuding professional potential early in their careers definitely attract an undeniable hype. New York Knicks center Eddie Curry says for a teenage athlete, it’s the closest thing to superstardom.
EDDIE (on tape)
It’s like you’re a movie star – almost. You know, to come from a small town but every single person in the town knows you like a household name and everybody is cheering for you. And to be so popular in your school, I mean every kid wants to be popular, but when you’re popular to that magnitude it’s crazy.
BRANDON
But what compels these athletes to cross into the pros when they aren't necessarily the most talented players or the biggest stars? For Curry, who was originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls from Thornwood High in Illinois, the decision wasn't hard to make.
EDDIE (on tape)
For me it was my family. You know we weren’t the wealthiest family on the block. So I mean I definitely wanted to help my family out. So it was an easy decision.
BRANDON
Golden State Warriors rookie guard, Monta Ellis, went to Lanier High School in Jackson, Mississippi. For him, the motivation to turn pro was two-fold. First, was a desire to get out of a bad situation back at home.
MONTA (on tape)
Drugs, violence, see it’s like a circle with a dot. And we’re in the middle. Everyday now, someone’s getting killed or something bad happens, so I’d rather stay anywhere besides Jackson, Mississippi.
BRANDON
From a hoops perspective, though, it was simply a matter of pushing his limits.
MONTA (on tape)
I felt like I could learn more on this level and play at this level, and I felt like in college, more guys would be intimidated by you because of your name, and they don’t want to go at you like that so I just wanted to accept the big challenge for me and a great opportunity so I just went at it.
BRANDON
But not everyone’s turned on to the idea of Blue Chip athletes. Ellis' head coach for the Warriors, Mike Montgomery, thinks the concept of high schoolers in the NBA is dead wrong.
MIKE (on tape)
My opinion the NBA was about mature athletes who had a chance to reach their potential physically and mentally and prepared for the things that they have to deal with in the NBA, and while there are certainly some guys, the Lebron James’s, Kobe Bryant when he came out – I just think that it sends a bad message to the young kids who may be thinking well I don’t have to study, I don’t have to prepare for school because I’m gonna go to the NBA.
BRANDON
When it comes to Monta, however, Coach Montgomery seems to soften his stance a little bit:
MIKE (on tape)
Monta is a good kid, he’s thrilled to be here and athletically certainly he has the potential to be a real good NBA player. But I’m looking at it not from a guy just being good enough to be in the league, as compared to how good he might have been had he had the opportunity to fully mature.
MONTA (on tape)
I look at it this way. We grown men, and when I was in high school I was a kid. I’m still a kid, but I have bigger responsibilities now.
BRANDON
Well, grown men or not, running the court with the big dogs isn't as easy as it seems. So for all you blue chip wannabes out there, who think you have what it takes to make the jump into the NBA, Eddie Curry offers this advice:
EDDIE (on tape)
I think just just have fun you know have fun, continue to be a kid, cause once you come here its over. That childhood is over. Trust me!
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