The Spectrum

Issue date: 4/7/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: AP Photo/RICK BOWMER Sebastian Telfair´s growing pains are more obvious.

As the playoff picture in the NBA becomes clearer and clearer, the teams who will be left out turn their attention to what will be their most crucial event in June, which is the NBA draft. 
Like every year, the college All-Americans will be under scrutiny and it's always a strong possibility that the nation's Player of the Year will be favored as the top overall pick.  What is intriguing about the past few drafts is that college hoop's elite athlete isn't guaranteed to be the first to shake David Stern's hand. 
In past recent years, a controversy has risen as the NBA universe has witnessed hundreds of players enter the draft immediately following receiving their high school diploma.  Should this growing discrepancy be permitted?
In the past four years, three high school seniors were taken first overall. The first was Kwame Brown to the Wizards in 2001, followed by LeBron James to the Cavaliers in 2003, and Dwight Howard to the Magic in 2004. 
In 2002, Yao Ming, a 7'6'' China native was selected, making it five years ago since a NCAA Player of the Year was taken. That player was Kenyon Martin who spent several successful years with the New Jersey Nets and is now helping the Denver Nuggets with their playoff push. 
Though this is issue hasn't been addressed until recently, having players enter the league after attending their senior proms isn't something new.  Shawn Kemp, a very successful forward who helped the Seattle Supersonics enjoy many playoff runs, broke the seal, and
allowed other athletes to see forgoing college eligibility as acceptable. 
Today, superstars such as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal excel on the hardwood, and teenage superstars feel they can match or exceed their accomplishments. 
Several players have sadly fallen into this pit of deception such as Jonathan Bender, Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry.  What do these names have in common?  They all were top five ranked players in their senior high school class, and all three struggle to put up respectable numbers night in and night out in the NBA. 
In the 2004 NBA draft, high school players taken have not been impressive except for Dwight Howard's solid play.  Not to knock him, but his numbers are tainted because he is forced to play due to the Magic's pathetic frontline. 

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