"What If No One Went Pro" - Article I found this on ESPN's main site, a fictional account of what could have been if the best young players in the league went to college instead of the League out of high school, or stayed longer until their senior years. The only thing that I do not like is that Lebron said that if he did not go to the League, he would go to Duke, which I read somewhere, but I do not remember, as Kobe Bryant said he would have went there also. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><u>Article</u>: What If No One Went Pro?(ESPN.go.com) In an alternate universe, Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon returned to Connecticut for their senior years. In an alternate universe, Carmelo Anthony is a junior All-American at Syracuse. In an alternate universe, Amare Stoudemire and Dajuan Wagner are a lethal one-two scoring punch for Memphis. In an alternate universe, Luol Deng is still at Duke and he's been joined by freshmen Dwight Howard and Shaun Livingston. In an alternate universe, the NBA has an age restriction and all high school phenoms go to college ? and stay for four years. In an alternate universe, this is what happens ...</div> Link <font color="Blue">In the future, please quote and link all articles, Voodoo Child</font>
Other What If Scenarios If these players would have stayed until their Junior Years how much better the college game would be, and their all-around games as well. Duke Kobe Bryant(1997-2000;Would have most likely been National Player of the Year other than Tracy McGrady) Corey Maggette(, 1999-2002;Freshmen Year Only) Elton Brand(Fr., Soph Year Only; 1998-2001)) Jay Williams(Who was a great college player, just not a great pro Fr.-Jr.) Shaun Livingston(H.S. entry) Dwight Howard Carlos Boozer(2000-2003) Mike Dunleavy(2000-2003) William Avery Tracy McGrady; North Carolina or Duke were his choices I believe North Carolina Vince Carter Antawn Jamison J.R. Smith Georgia Tech Stephon Marbury Chris Bosh Georgetown Allen Iverson Tyson Chandler Eddy Curry(DePaul) Daruis Miles Omar Cook(St.Johns) Deshawn Stevenson(Kansas) Memphis Dajuan Wagner Amare Stoudamire Michigan Kevin Garnett Louisville Sebastian Telfair Al Harrington Rashard Lewis Korleone Young Leon Smith Ricky Davis(Iowa) Mike Miller Steve Francis(Maryland) Ndudi Ebi Josh Smith Shawn Kemp(Kentucky)
This is a typical page 2 artical. It's meant to be humorous more than it's meant to be factual. You can tell that as soon as they mention LeBron on Akron. LeBron would have probably gone to a school like Ohio State if he stayed. Putting James on the Buckeyes would be the realistic thing to do. I also don't think it's fair to list every other player on Duke either. Dwight Howard on Duke? The last I heard, he hadn't made up his mind and was just as high on Indiana. Howard and Josh Smith could have both been at Indiana, where are they on this list? You can't tell me that a trio of Bracey Wright, Dwight Howard, and Josh Smith would not be Final Four material. He also didn't list Erazem Lorbek on Michigan State's roster. Remember? He's the kid who left to play overseas after just a year of Spartan basketball. He's projected to be a late first to early second round draft pick this year. You can't tell me a big man like him wouldn't help a team like Michigan State tremendously right now. Besides, you know that if these kids were forced to stay four years in college, they would think more wisely about their choices. For example, Dajuan Wagner would probably not have gone to Memphis had he known they wouldn't let him go one and done. Also, Kendrick Perkins and Amare Stoudamire were never quite sold on Memphis either. Their verbal commitments were about as thin as you can get. As for the "coulda beens" of years past, how about the roster Michigan State was supposed to have a few years back? PG - Marcus Taylor/Chris Hill SG - Jason Richardson/Shannon Brown SF - Alan Anderson/Maurice Ager PF - Zach Randolph/Kelvin Torbert C - Erazem Lorbek/Paul Davis
Speaking of that story, I was reading on rivals (or trying to, don't have an account) that the new CBA will likely have an age limit. So maybe this article will come closer to reality than you'd think someday soon.
naw <div class="quote_poster">Quoting briang8818:</div><div class="quote_post">LeBron probably would have gone to akron. That's where a few of his akron st. v's teammates went.</div> no he wouldnt have!! His teammates went there becuase their former coach was there and they had no where else that was higher-profile to go. His final list inlcuded Michigan State, Duke and UNC. There are others which I will post later when I am able to get to my source. Akron wasnt even on his short list.
I think a big reason most kids would want to skip college is to get away from the education so that they don't have to do any school work anymore. IMO thats all.
I say LeBron would've went to Ohio State or Xavier maybe, because they both are fairly close to Akron, Ohio and I think he'd rather go play for a big name school and make that school a top program. But he clairly made the right choice on jumping to the NBA.
I recall him considering Ohio State (if he would have done college) but remember, OSU was ineligible this season, so they couldn't put that in the article.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I recall him considering Ohio State (if he would have done college) but remember, OSU was ineligible this season, so they couldn't put that in the article.</div> If LeBron James declared for Ohio State, do you honestly think they'd be ineligible? Do you remember how much hype and money was created off of LeBron James right out of High School? I highly doubt Ohio State would ban themselves if they had that kind of opportunity.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">If LeBron James declared for Ohio State, do you honestly think they'd be ineligible? Do you remember how much hype and money was created off of LeBron James right out of High School? I highly doubt Ohio State would ban themselves if they had that kind of opportunity.</div>The NCAA surely would have stepped in if they didn't ban themselves.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKOwnstheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">I say LeBron would've went to Ohio State or Xavier maybe, because they both are fairly close to Akron, Ohio and I think he'd rather go play for a big name school and make that school a top program. But he clairly made the right choice on jumping to the NBA.</div> His short list didnt include Xavier and he never mentioned having any interest in it. His list was Cal, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, North Carolina and Duke
