Derrick Favors to trim list

Derrick Favors (PF, 6’9″, 2009) has said recently that he probably won’t select a school until next spring, with recent reports having at least fifteen schools in the running for the top big man’s services.

However, it now is likely that many of those schools won’t have to wait that long, as Favors is expected to trim his list to six by August 11.

Favors is a five-star player whose likely destination is the NBA, in the not-too-distant future, and one of three ACC targets in the state of Georgia that could wind up at Georgia Tech. With Noel Johnson(SG/SF, 6’6″, 2009) and Mfon Udofia(PG, 6’2″, 2009) also considering Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jacket fans are holding their breath to see if they bring in a phenomenal 2009 class to join already-committed Brian Oliver (SF, 6’6″, 2009).

Lute Olsen chimes in on Brandon Jennings

Lute Olsen, not one to remain silent while the entire basketball media froths into hyper analysis over his former recruit Brandon Jennings, who has decided to try his luck and play in Europe for a year, has chimed in, per the L.A. Times:

“It’s a situation now that if someone’s a ‘one-and-done,’ we’re not going to pursue them anymore, no way,”

“Jerryd [Bayless, who left after one year at Arizona and was a lottery pick in this year’s draft] said all along he wanted to stay here two years, but then you get the agents working on the kids and parents all year. You might have the kid in your controlled environment for some time, but when [outsiders are] on the parents, you have no idea what’s going on.”

Lute might not have completely stated the real issue, but his meaning is pretty clear. There are a lot of people, besides the players themselves, who will benefit financially if they can convince the NBA to remove the one-year rule or convince the players to leave early. Every time someone comes out for or against the rule, we should step back and see who is making the statements and what benefit they may get from their position. Agents, promoters and the like who latch on to some of the players will benefit enormously if they can get rid of the rule. The NBA feels it will make more money if it keeps the rule and possibly extends it. College basketball fans want players to stay in for four years, often blasting players who leave early. A good coach must do what’s right for his players, but that doesn’t mean all coaches want their players to leave early.

We must take all statement with a “grain of salt”. The situation is different for different players, in different years, for different teams.