A record 37 underclassmen, plus three high school students, made themselves available for the recent National Basketball Association draft, adding to the growing concern of many that more and more young men, particularly Black men, will abandon educational pursuits for hoop dreams.
One of those most concerned about the early exodus saw one of his charges benefit the most. Even though his player, sophomore Allen Iverson, was selected first in the draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Georgetown University basketball coach John Thompson is fearful of the message underclassmen send when they leave college for the lure of the NBA.
“One of the dangers of what is going on is that it minimizes the value of an education,” Thompson said. “It is misleading. Everything that moos is not a cow.” Iverson was the first of Thompson’s players in his 24 years at Georgetown to leave school for the NBA. Other Georgetown players such as Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning completed their degrees before heading for the riches of the NBA.
“As far as some of the individuals concerned, you understand why, at that time and place, they make the move,” Thompson said. “For some, that is the correct move to make at this time. The real thing is how they come out of the NBA. Some people hit the lottery and go broke. It is not the point of them getting money, but how they deal with it, use it, keep it and invest it. And you have to be educated.”
