Tom Izzo Hates the One-and-Done Rule

Add Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo to the the growing list of college coaches that hate the one-and-done system. His problem isn't with the kids leaving early. It is about the pressure on coaches and more.

"The cheating is getting worse," Izzo said Wednesday before he attended at the Big Brothers/Big Sisters 35th annual Gourmet Dinner at Fort Wayne Country Club. "Everyone is feeling they have to get a player for a year and try to win big. We're in this profession where you're hired to be fired, too, and because of that, I think nationwide, cheating is getting worse."

He isn't just talking about the agents, runners and AAU advisers.

"Nothing's perfect," Izzo said. "But I'd rather go against someone who is going to be honest and upfront and not cheat than go against some of the people we have to go against in this profession."

Izzo favors the baseball system where a kid can go pro right out of high school or he has to stay in college for 3 years before re-entering the draft. Izzo, though, would settle for even a 2 year period.
Usually only the top-5 to -10 high school recruits were going to the NBA directly out of high school, before the one-year wait. Those were the players most likely at risk to be compromised by agents and runners. At the very least, fewer agents would be investing so early in kids not heading straight to the pros.

The problem -- as everyone knows -- is that it's not up to the NCAA. It's up to the NBA and the NBA Players Association. They have to pass the rule. They have no incentive to do that.

The NBA only wanted to make it easier and cheaper for teams to make draft decisions. By forcing kids to college for even a year, they no longer have to worry about scouting high school kids. They can stick to college and overseas scouting. Where the talent disparity among teams is not so great.

Plus the NBA gets free marketing for those top players by their exposure at the college level for a year. It creates more buzz and interest when they move to the pros.