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Message: [QUOTE="TheOrangeBuddha, post: 253201, member: 157"] The only issue with the APR is how to account for "student/athletes" that declare for or are eligible for the NBA draft. Every student worth his/her salt will prepare for a big interview, be it on campus or off campus. That preparation, however, rarely takes time away from the student's ability to finish classes. The months of March, April and May are "interviews" for NBA-hopeful former college basketball players. These months require travel (Chicago "combine" if you are invited), several combine type scrimmages (ex. Portsmouth Invitational), interviews by teams throughout the nation, workouts with teams, individual workouts at facilities specified by an agent ... The list goes on. It would be irresponsible for an NBA-hopeful former college basketball player to NOT do EVERYTHING within his power to be in the best possible position to "wow" the league executives during this runup to the draft. Finishing off a sociology 200 class does not fit within this construct. Nor must it. The realities also include the fact that the majority of men's college basketball players need and/or rely upon the significant assistance provided by athletic departments in maintaining eligibility/excelling academically. During March, April/May after declaring for the draft, this assistance is no longer provided (or at a bare minimum - it is not available while the player is on the road doing the things necessary to prepare himself for the draft). This is why the APR as to this one issue makes little sense. Requiring "student/athletes" to meet certain criteria along their path while in school makes sense. And this should be a requirement put on the schools. But the issues above are very concerning. PS - Because most incoming freshmen college basketball players earn anywhere from six to ten credits during the summer before their freshman years, it seems much easier for a "one-and-done" player to be eligible even if that student does not finish out the Spring semester. [/QUOTE]

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