Most athletes coming out of high school often pursue a collegiate career as they seek a balance in both athletics and academics. Playing in college allows you to establish a strong academic foundation for your career after sports, while also providing high-level competition and resources to pursue a professional career down the line. 

There are, however, a few sports in which high schoolers can go straight to the professional level – basketball and baseball – where they can get a head start in their development and get acclimated to the professional sports environment. In addition to getting a year of professional experience under their belt straight out of high school, younger athletes can also make a steady income without having to go to college. In this article, we are going to discuss the pros and cons of skipping college and going straight to professional basketball. 

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The draft process in the National Basketball Association has been constantly changing and developing over recent years. Rules such as the “one-and-done rule” and developmental leagues like the G League have opened doors for high school and college athletes to play in the NBA. Players who are drafted by NBA teams usually make the professional roster right off the bat and often get playing time right away. 

Highly talented players in high school do not develop their game as much at the college level compared to other sports, which is why big name prospects have opted to go the professional route out of high school.

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The One-and-Done Rule
Unlike other sports, such as football, that require college athletes to play until their Junior or Senior year to be eligible for the draft, the NBA implemented the “one-and-done rule,” which allows college athletes to declare for the draft with only one year of collegiate experience. This rule was initially intended to prevent high schoolers from declaring for the draft right away, but is often seen as an unnecessary stepping stone for high-level talent to overcome before getting their professional career started. 

One-and-Done Effect on Recruiting
The one-and-done rule has major implications on the recruiting process as highly talented athletes often express their intent to only play one year in college, which doesn't promote team chemistry or loyalty to a school. This is a red flag to coaches who might be trying to develop their program from the ground up. There have been talks about getting rid of the one-and-done rule and allowing top high school prospects to declare for the draft, but until that rule passes, the one-and-done rule must be acknowledged. 

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The G League
A rather new pathway in the NBA draft process is through the G League and other elite leagues. The G League pathway allows talented high school prospects to play professionally straight out of high school because it is the NBA's developmental league. Unlike other players in the G League, high school players who choose this pathway are not eligible to be called up by an NBA team, but they are draft-eligible. 

This pathway allows high school players to obtain professional-level experience, get acclimated to pro-style offenses and strategies, and make an income. In addition, the G League offers full scholarships to Arizona State University for high school graduates who play in their league, in order to promote education while pursuing a professional career. Top-level high school prospects such as Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga are the pioneers of playing for the G League out of high school, and their development compared to their collegiate counterparts is apparent.

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* Originally published on January 25, 2022, by Dylan Tehada