Can a high school PG make it in the NBA ?

[SSHoya]

Sebastian Telfair declared for the NBA draft.

[nychoya3]

So is Shaun Livingston. Livingston will be a lottery pick, Telfair won't be. He'll probably get into the first round - he'll be a draw on hype alone and probably worth a late first round pick. Also, he has a sizable endorsement deal waiting for him.

Here's where I have my doubts: He's 6 foot nothing and he can't shoot. How many guys are successful in the NBA with that description?

Tony Parker was essentially a high schooler when he came into the league, and he worked out pretty darn good (he was incredible in game one against LA).

[the_way]

I don't even know why Livingston declared. He is so overrated. I saw him in the McDonald's all star game, and he couldn't even dribble the ball up the court, they kept stealing the ball away from him, and he is suppose to be a PG. All these high school guys declaring are idiots. They REALLY do need an EDUCATION. Because with the exception of maybe Howard, and RJ Smith, they need to go to school.

[nychoya3]

Well, by all accouts, Livingston will be selected in the top 10, and quite possibly the top 5. So I don't know how you can pass that up. I'd be hesistant to judge anyone on their performance in the McDs game. That's not exactly a standard game.

Josh Smith is coming out and will be a lottery pick. Al Jefferson will be a high pick.

[michiganhoya]

Randy Livingstone, a few years back, should have declared out of high school. Instead, he got hurt at LSU and never made it big time.

Also, AI could have gone. After 2 years of JT's "offensive" tutelage, he was pretty raw by the time he reached the league.

Finally, Kenny Anderson & Stephon Marbury could have gone.

I just read an interesting interview with a legal scholar on the economic value to the high school player who makes the leap to the pro's -- nbadraft.net/mccanninterview.asp

[HoyaNJ5]

the_way said:

I don't even know why Livingston declared. He is so overrated. I saw him in the McDonald's all star game, and he couldn't even dribble the ball up the court, they kept stealing the ball away from him, and he is suppose to be a PG. All these high school guys declaring are idiots. They REALLY do need an EDUCATION. Because with the exception of maybe Howard, and RJ Smith, they need to go to school.

I don't think you should judge this kid by one McDonald's game. Granted, I've only seen him at the ABCD Camp, but at least it was a full week. At the camp, this kid showed that he could do everything, except shoot. He's 6-7, has great ballhandling skills, and has great court vision. There's no doubt in my mind that he'll do well if given the opportunity. Of course, he's skinny as a twig, so they might have to get him stronger. He might never be able to bulk up (cause Tayshaun Prince sure hasn't), but he definitely needs to get stronger. Other than that, I also agree with nychoya, there is no way he should pass up a top 5 pick to go to college. Nothing he can do in college would really make his stock go up much higher. He's got a lot more to lose than gain by going to college.

[dikembe]

I think Telfair could have used at the very least a year in big time college basketball to test his skills. Hes a 6ft guard with a very slight build, hes not a Garnett or Lebron. But when Adidas will give you 2 million a year before you do anything, very few of us could say no.

[hoyainspirit]

michiganhoya said:

Randy Livingstone, a few years back, should have declared out of high school. Instead, he got hurt at LSU and never made it big time.

Brief correction here. Randy Livingston got hurt in the summer prior to his freshman year. He was never the same after the injury, yet still managed to stay on the fringe of the NBA for years. He was a terrific high school player.

[1803]

So much time is spent talking about how guys who go pro are being conned out of an education, and everyone blames the adults. Here is a novel thought: Let's say that Sebastian Telfair goes pro, banks upwards of ten million dollars, but he stinks it up on the court and is out of the league in four years. He will be 22 years old at that time. Don't you think that he could afford to pay his own tuition at any school in the country if he decides that college is important to him? It is not like colleges do not accept people who are over 18. Something you never hear about education and basketball players. Allen Iverson could finish Georgetown is he wanted to. I am sure that he could dig deep for the forty grand, that's what he spends on a big weekend.

[Gold Hoya]

dikembe said:

I think Telfair could have used at the very least a year in big time college basketball to test his skills. Hes a 6ft guard with a very slight build, hes not a Garnett or Lebron. But when Adidas will give you 2 million a year before you do anything, very few of us could say no.

He's probably afraid that a year of big time college basketball would show he's not that good, a la Cook from St. John's.

[nychoya3]

I seriously doubt that's the case. He's an 18 year old kid who has been a dominant basketball player since the time he could walk. I don't think he's ever had even a pang of doubt about whether he's really "that good." Money talks, and I can't blame the kid for taking it when it's on the table.

Devin Harris is probably in the draft, and since he should be the first or second PG drafted, that will hard Telfair's stock a little bit.