14 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, July 3, 1996 SPORTS D Sporting Views: arly entries into NBA will hurt rofessional, college basketball By Chris Farah Dialy Sports Writer The NBA Draft. Those three words have by them- selves represented fortune, fame and possible stardom in the minds of profes- sional basketball hopefuls for many years. This year's NBA Draft was no differ- ent - with one major exception. This time, more than ever before, the future millionaires who worried about what kind of suit they would wear on national television at the draft were.busy worrying about what kind of tuxedos they'd wear to their high school proms just a few months ago. Whether we like it or not, basketball players are deciding to go pro at increas- ingly younger ages. This year, the num- ber of underclassmen who made them- Color Printing Color Printing Color Printing Color Printing Big savings on color printing for all clubs, businesses, and organizations. John Wallace had to wait and wait before being picked 18th by New York in last Wednesday's NBA Draft. Wallace, who opted to stay at Syracuse for his senior year Instead of entering the 1995 draft, was selected behind two high school players. INTRAMURAL SPORTS U PROGRAM COMPETITIVE! UPCOMING ACTIVITIES seives eligible for the draft reached a record-high 32, with three of those young opportunists coming straight out of high school. With NBA teams using nine out of their first 10 picks to select underclass- men in last week's draft, the parade of young talent out of the college ranks and into the pros is just beginning. Considering that two of the high school players were chosen in the top 20 of the draft, it wouldn't be surprising if even high school athletic associations soon have something to worry about. Okay, so that may be exaggerating a bit, but traditionalists everywhere are panicking about the invaluable experi- ence players are losing by forgoing their college years, while praising players like Syracuse's John Wallace for deciding to stay all four years to improve different aspects of their game. But how did Wallace, whose extra year of NCAA expetience gave him a much improved all-around game and a trip to the national championship game. end itp doing'? He was picked l 8th, behind both high school players.- Kobe Bryant and Jermaitne O'Neal - after pundits pre- dicted Wallace to go anywhere it the top 10. So does it really mean much in the long run for a player to get the most out of competition at the college level by staying all four years? The answer is, there is no answer. There will always be a Shawn Kemp, who shines in the NBA without any col- lege experience, a Grant H1ill, who reaches sUperstardom after four strong years at a nationally renowned program like Duke, and aYinka Dare, who comes out early with a lot of potential and amounts to nothing in the NBA. One thing is for certain, however. The game of basketball to which fans have become accustomed is going to suffer on all levels -college and professional. With players entering the NBA at ear- lier and earlier ages, the NCAA will lose out - not only on bona-fide stars like Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas, who were obviously ready for the NBA when they left school as sophomores, but also solid, burgeoning stars like Samaki Walker and Stephon Marbury, who stil hase a lot to learn and a lot to prove. I the trend continues, March Madness could eventually become March Mediocrity, highlighted by lopsided vic- tories instead of last-second heroics. Don't think that the NBA won't also have problems. It will still have its million-dollar salaries and flashy promos. Yet with its extremely demanding schedules allow- ing less time for development of funda mentals, the NBA will also face a dilut- ed skill level. There will be plenty of excitement, slam dunks and attitude, but a lot less defense and heady play - things which add intensity and suspense to a basketball game. Sure, basketball will survive. Just look at everything baseball has gone through in the past couple of years with- out perishing, and that becomes obvious. "The question is, will it even resemble the sport fans have grown to love, or will its increasing youth and inexperience turn it into something as mature and level-headed as the "X Games?" Let's pray not, for all of our sakes. 6 Sydney Bisbane " Melbou e SyDNEY SCENE 4 days from $195 " 3 NIGHTS AT CENTRAL SyDNEy HOTEL " CONTINENTAL BREAKFASTS " FuLaLoy SyDNEy EXPLORER BUS PASS " Fuu AySyuey HARBOUR EXPORERCRUISE " Visrr DARING HAROuR WE 'AE AUSE SPEQAIST CE aEDI 120 . university., Ste. 208 (above McDonalds) 9 99 0 SOFTBALL SAND VOLLEYBALL Managers Meeting (Mandatory): Weds 7/10 5:30pm IMSB Instant Scheduling: Weds 7/10 5:30pm IMSB Entry Fee: $50.00 per team Play Begins: Tues 7/16 at Elbel Field (Hil/Division/Hoover) Managers Meeting (Mndatory): Weds 7/10 6:30pm IMSB Entries Taken: Weds 7/10 6:30pm IMSB Entry Fee: $35.00 per team Play Begins: Tues 7/16 at Elbel Field (Hl/Division/Hoover) '- A 3-on-3 Managers Meeting (Mandatory): Weds 7/10 7:30pm IMSB BASKETBALL Entries Taken: Weds 7/10 7:30pm IMSB Entry Fee: $20.00 per team K Play Begins: Tues 7/16 at Elbel Field (Hill/Division/Hoover) The deadline for Tennis (Singles and Doubles) entries is Thursday July 18 while Golf (2-person team scramble) entries are due Wednesday July 24. 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