McCullough to the NBA; Not all one and dones are the same

[pfister1]

As I think about everyone saying how they feel about Chris McCullough and his decision I am torn about whether I will root for him to do well as he pursues his career after SU. I suppose I would never root for him to fail, but I also don't think I'll be looking for box scores the the morning after a game he plays in to see how he has done like I have with other former SU players like Wes, Dion, MCW or Grant.

While I understand that he came in as a one and done, I kind of feel like he is doing more harm to the program by leaving the way that he is than if he played a solid year and then left.

We have seen a range of one and done players over the last dozen or so years. If you were to rank them;

Melo is the gold standard - National Player of the Year (or at least he should have been); Led team to the NCAA Championship; Goes on to High Profile NBA Career; Stays in close contact with JB and School; Donates signficant sums back to the program to ensure its continued success in the future.

Wes - one terrific season, plays a huge part in what is arguably one of all time best teams in Syracuse history. Team wins Big East regular season; advances to the Sweet 16 and was a favorite to win it all but for the AO injury.

Donte - Had a very good individual season. Was generally considered to be a good kid and has been a good representative of the University; team was a disappointment and did not get an NCAA bid, but that was largely influenced by season ending injuries to Devendorf and Rautins.

CMac - If Melo is the gold standard, CMac is the opposite. Injured half-way through his lone season. Play prior to injury was inconsistent at best. Prior to injury his team was looking like it was going to have only borderline success which devolved into the self-imposed ban and no post-season after his injury. These things can't be attributed to CMac, but it does feel like his failure to perform to expectations undermined our season. It will be hard to disassociate his time at SU from the end result of this season.

In terms of one and dones I would take a Melo and a Wes result every time it was available.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Wes was actually 4 and done and left with his degree. He did 2 years at Iowa State before transferring here, and he sat out a year at SU before playing.

 

[pfister1]

Wes was actually 4 and done and left with his degree. He did 2 years at Iowa State before transferring here, and he sat out a year at SU before playing.

He was one and done at SU.

 

[HOFCeluck]

He was one and done at SU.

no

 

[MSOrange]

He was one and done at SU.

What the others are getting at is even though Wes wasn't playing, the redshirt transfer year was big for his development. So yeah, he was only on the court for one year but he was practicing and getting better for two.

 

[pfister1]

What the others are getting at is even though Wes wasn't playing, the redshirt transfer year was big for his development. So yeah, he was only on the court for one year but he was practicing and getting better for two.

I wasn't thinking about guys being one and done from the perspective of their development, but rather the impact of a one and done on the program. The thought was prompted by someone's statement in one of the CMac threads that we shouldn't take one and done players. As you point out, you could argue that Wes' impact was felt over two years because of his participation in practices the year he had to sit out. But, I was really focused on tangible on-court game impact.

 

[Jack Hall]

As I think about everyone saying how they feel about Chris McCullough and his decision I am torn about whether I will root for him to do well as he pursues his career after SU. I suppose I would never root for him to fail, but I also don't think I'll be looking for box scores the the morning after a game he plays in to see how he has done like I have with other former SU players like Wes, Dion, MCW or Grant.

While I understand that he came in as a one and done, I kind of feel like he is doing more harm to the program by leaving the way that he is than if he played a solid year and then left.

We have seen a range of one and done players over the last dozen or so years. If you were to rank them;

Melo is the gold standard - National Player of the Year (or at least he should have been); Led team to the NCAA Championship; Goes on to High Profile NBA Career; Stays in close contact with JB and School; Donates signficant sums back to the program to ensure its continued success in the future.

Wes - one terrific season, plays a huge part in what is arguably one of all time best teams in Syracuse history. Team wins Big East regular season; advances to the Sweet 16 and was a favorite to win it all but for the AO injury.

Donte - Had a very good individual season. Was generally considered to be a good kid and has been a good representative of the University; team was a disappointment and did not get an NCAA bid, but that was largely influenced by season ending injuries to Devendorf and Rautins.

CMac - If Melo is the gold standard, CMac is the opposite. Injured half-way through his lone season. Play prior to injury was inconsistent at best. Prior to injury his team was looking like it was going to have only borderline success which devolved into the self-imposed ban and no post-season after his injury. These things can't be attributed to CMac, but it does feel like his failure to perform to expectations undermined our season. It will be hard to disassociate his time at SU from the end result of this season.

In terms of one and dones I would take a Melo and a Wes result every time it was available.

My first instinct is to be disappointed in McC but he had a devastating knee injury. Those tend to reoccur, look at DRose or our own DC2. On one hand as a fan i am shocked he is entering (not knowing all the details) but on the other hand, knowing that if he blew out his knee again at SU next yr his career might be all but over, i cant blame him for wanting to get paid. Injuries must scare the livin heck out of all these top prospects, even more the ones who have gone thru it. I will pull for him when he makes nba some day, but not as much as most other SU players because in the end he didnt get a chance to make a big deifference

 

[SUintheVille]

Remember how excited we all were when we knew he had signed with SU and the impact he might have? Wow, how things change. Very disappointing and unfortunate, the whole situation. Not passing blame or judgement here. Perhaps kids should just to allowed to go straight to the NBA, but if they commit to college, they are bound to a 2-yr commitment. Moving on.

 

[jvbj01]

The young man is chasing his dream. I wish the best for him.

 

[Briancuse]

Imo Chris has made the worst decision out of all of them, his stock well never be lower than it is now.

 

[Dave85]

Wes was actually 4 and done and left with his degree. He did 2 years at Iowa State before transferring here, and he sat out a year at SU before playing.

Wes was crazy athletic. Grant was pretty close but I still think Wes may have been a little more athletic.

 

[Dave85]

Remember how excited we all were when we knew he had signed with SU and the impact he might have? Wow, how things change. Very disappointing and unfortunate, the whole situation. Not passing blame or judgement here. Perhaps kids should just to allowed to go straight to the NBA, but if they commit to college, they are bound to a 2-yr commitment. Moving on.

I'm not disappointed in CMac at all. Everytime someone declares a lot people here are "good for him" and "best of luck". But I have to tell you something about TE leaving after one and done rubbed me the wrong way. I'm a Syracuse Orange fan not an NBA fan. Sorry but that's my opinion.

 

[Orange2389]

The only players to jump to the NBA after leaving Syracuse on a high are Melo and MCW. Every other NBA bound player at SU didn't lead their prospective teams on a deep run. (Dion did get the team to the elite eight)

something to think about

 

[SUintheVille]

The young man is chasing his dream. I wish the best for him.

That may be true (and I do wish him well), but his dream would be more dreamy with another year to prove himself physically and skillfully. It's one year. Better than lost in the D league or elsewhere. Too many young basketball players seem to lack the patience when $$ are in front of their eyes. Understandable? Yes. But do they understand the big picture? Not sure.

 

[jvbj01]

That may be true (and I do wish him well), but his dream would be more dreamy with another year to prove himself physically and skillfully. It's one year. Better than lost in the D league or elsewhere. Too many young basketball players seem to lack the patience when $$ are in front of their eyes. Understandable? Yes. But do they understand the big picture? Not sure.

This is his life decision. He probably would be better staying another year, but we don't know. What if he stayed and didn't develop more or what if he got hurt again? Then, he likely wouldn't be drafted in either round of the NBA draft. Don't get me wrong. I wish he would have stayed.

 

[orangecuse]

The young man is chasing his dream. I wish the best for him.

Too bad he wasn't a bit wiser while chasing some tail...would've likely been to his benefit while chasing his dream. :noidea:

 

[Dave85]

The young man is chasing his dream. I wish the best for him.

A lot of what makes Orange basketball so great is the devoted fan base. Do you think our players should have any loyalty to our program and its fans? Do players who benefit so much from the Orange fans have any obligation to them?

Grant leaving for the NBA did not bother me because he contributed so much to the program. CMac leaving doesn't bother me because we hardly got to know him. But for some reason Tyler Ennis leaving really bothered me and still does. I just felt he left the program in a very bad way with his departure. And I did not think he was anywhere close to being an NBA level player. I know it's all about the money, his choice, bla, bla, bla. But as fan it just feels like he betrayed us a bit. I thought the coaches gave TE a huge opportunity and with that opportunity came some responsibilities. I know a lot people think players owe us nothing. But I just don't see it that way. I am blinded by the Orange.

 

[orangefan13]

I will root for mccullough but I won't consider him a orange or orangemen. I just will consider him my most favorite recruit to skip college and go straight to the nba.


We really needed him to come back this year, I understand money and blaah blaah blaah but he still would make 40-50 k to play basketball even if he didn't make the nba after his sophmore year. And has a coaching job anywhere in the country reguardless that isn't bad.

the team and fans really NEEDED him NEXT year. He was the final piece to the puzzle to making us a darkhorse vs a possbile bubble team.

 

[jvbj01]

I will root for mccullough but I won't consider him a orange or orangemen. I just will consider him my most favorite recruit to skip college and go straight to the nba.


We really needed him to come back this year, I understand money and blaah blaah blaah but he still would make 40-50 k to play basketball even if he didn't make the nba after his sophmore year. And has a coaching job anywhere in the country reguardless that isn't bad.

the team and fans really NEEDED him NEXT year. He was the final piece to the puzzle to making us a darkhorse vs a possbile bubble team.

If he earned a million in the NBA, it would take 20-25 years to make a million at the suggested 40-50 k yearly rate. As far as him coaching anywhere in the country, do you really believe this? Anywhere?...? Do all NBA prospects have a job in coaching?