Early entry question

itstrue56 · Post #1 » by **itstrue56** » Thu Aug 1, 2013 1:10 am

I can't find any precedent for this happening, but if an international player graduates high school in November, comes to the United States and enrolls at a college midseason (December, 2013 for example), would the player be eligible for the next draft (2014), provided he's 19 in the year of the draft?

defhalotones · Post #2 » by **defhalotones** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 5:13 pm

As long as the player is 1 year removed from HS. He should be fine to enter the NBA draft.

DBoys · Post #3 » by **DBoys** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 1:20 pm

What country graduates students in November? Which Euros have graduated high school in Europe and come to the US to play a month later, rather than play Euro ball? (And if they plan to enter the NBA draft a few months later, why would they even even consider becoming a short term student who will abort their college education after a few months, rather than staying at home where it's more familiar and playing for pay?)

This smacks of an attempt to find a precise hypothetical not quite specified in the CBA, because the conditions within the question don't actually exist in the real world.

Dunkenstein · Post #4 » by **Dunkenstein** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 7:55 am

DBoys wrote:What country graduates students in November?

Australia, Rwanda and Chile are among numerous countries in the southern hemisphere that end their school years in November. And while the New Zealand school year lasts until mid-December, there is no school each year on Waitangi Day.

Post #5 » by **HartfordWhalers** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 1:15 pm

DBoys wrote:What country graduates students in November? Which Euros have graduated high school in Europe and come to the US to play a month later, rather than play Euro ball? (And if they plan to enter the NBA draft a few months later, why would they even even consider becoming a short term student who will abort their college education after a few months, rather than staying at home where it's more familiar and playing for pay?)

This smacks of an attempt to find a precise hypothetical not quite specified in the CBA, because the conditions within the question don't actually exist in the real world.

Yeah, as noted above, this description of it seems inaccurate and also unduly harsh. Especially considering it is pretty much the exact question about a guy expected to be a top 5 pick next summer.

Exum will graduate from high school in Australia in October, thus fueling speculation that he could play for a college program in December.

"Schools have been saying I can start in early December and play this season," Exum told ESPN.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... e-december

Post #6 » by **Three34** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 4:54 pm

DBoys · Post #7 » by **DBoys** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 6:56 pm

Okay, even though it's an unprecedented hypothetical, if there actually is a possibility of it happening I'll withdraw my objection to the question.

But if we go by the strict letter of the law regarding the CBA wording, it looks to me that there could technically be a difference between the November graduate (as posed in the Q) and the October graduate (the example offered).

Regarding the November grad ...per a strict reading of the CBA, he would NOT be eligible. The issue is that he loses his standing as an "international" player once he attends a US college. Not being an international, the CBA demands that he be at least 19 and also that "at least one (1) NBA Season has elapsed since the player’s graduation from high school."

But with his high school graduation having occurred DURING the NBA season, there would be less than 1 NBA season after his graduation until the draft in which he wants to participate, making him ineligible.

With Exum who graduates in October, it's probably different. The NBA season starts Oct 29, meaning a graduation date in October, except for the last few days, would allow him to satisfy the requirement of graduating HS "at least one (1) season" before being being draft eligible.

My guess is that the NBA would circumvent the strict reading of their own rule, and allow the November grad to be eligible too. But all we have at this point is the CBA itself, and it indicates the Nov HS grad who is not an international can't be draft-eligible the next June.

However ...

If he were to retain his international status, all he needs is to be 19, and graduation date wouldn't matter.