than there was ever a chance that KL came back. That said, as great as UCLA is, it’s tough to turn down being a lottery pick. I have no doubt JH loves Westwood and his teammates and the college game, but when you sit down and think about being a top 10 pick, it’s tough to turn down.

No offense to anyone intended, but I’m a bit tired of hearing how it is inevitable that if money is put before a one year player he will leave — and that is to be both expected and accepted.

I don’t expect it and I really don’t accept it.

Without making any value judgments, because each choice is individual, there are lots of kids who turn down money. To them, money isn’t everything. Some value education. Some want to experience college as something more than a minor league. And, some realize that they have stuff to learn before turning pro — in the class room and on the playing field.

(And, all over the campus there are students whose behavior is not guided by the “let’s see how I can maximize my income” philosophy. Altruism is not completely dead, yet.)

I just do not accept that all decisions are motivated by money. And, therefore, I am somewhat critical of one and dones.

Tebow could have gone pro, last year. He surely can go pro this year — but I will not be surprised if he does not. He does not come from a rich family and I’m sure his family would be more comfortable were he to have turned pro.

DC could have gone pro last year. I know, he might not have made as much money — but the opportunity cost of playing this year at UCLA is probably greater than what he would have lost by being drafted a little later last year. Money was not everything to him.

I do not want to re-kindle the debate of last year — I’m tired of talking about it, but I would prefer not to have any one and done players at UCLA. I’d prefer not to have them, anywhere, but we can’t control that. One and done’s — either here or elsewhere waste a spot in the University and never reap the benefits it has to bestow. One and done’s have made great educational institutions “farm teams”, and I don’t like that.

I admire KL but he will never be one of my favorites in the same way LMR is. And, if JH goes, so be it, but he too, even if we win a national championship, will not be a favorite.

He may be a great kid and is truly a gifted player, and he didn’t write the rules that force him to do a year of college — but I’d prefer that all who come here make a promise to CBH to stay at least 2 years. I know that is totally unenforceable, but I think we should do it, anyway. I think it would be hard for any one to break a promise made to CBH.

and Tebow or DC is both KL and JH were or will be top 10 picks. From a basketball standpoint, there’s not much higher they can go. DC was projected to be picked between 20-25 so if he improved his strength and finishing in the lane, he could move up into the lottery. Tebow was projected to be a 3rd or 4th round pick last year and a 2nd round pick this year. He could still improve his passing and move up into the first round. I don’t expect all players to turn pro just because they can, but I expect 80% of top 10 picks to turn pro and that’s what JH would be. I’d love for him to surprise me and stay, but I don’t think it will happen.

I am hoping that JH returns, and he certainly seems like he has more incentive to do so than KL did last year, but it would not be surprising if he were to go if he was a lottery pick.

66’s viewpoints certainly resonate with me, and I wish that there would be more programs and athletes who subscribe to the mentality that Coach taught, but I think modern society really pushes back against that. I really do believe that what you can gain being coached under coach Howland for one or two more years is worth more than the couple million you can earn by jumping early, both monetarily in the long run and also as a person, but it is still a challenging argument to make and one that I think will be rejected more often than not.

Having said that, it makes guys like Tebow (who announced he will stay on WWL), Colt McCoy (if he stays at Texas) and Collison all the more special when they forgo the huge contracts and the allure of money for something that they view as greater. Like 66 said, I will feel a small bit of pride when KL succeeds in the NBA, as I’m sure he will, but it will never be the same sentiment that I have for LMR, DC, AA.

JH is a combo-guard who projects to be a lead guard in the NBA. I think that he would be better served coming back for at least another year to get experience running the point, but RW’s current success in the NBA proves that while it’s beneficial to have college experience at the 1, it isn’t necessary. JH is a great player and a great kid, but we’ll still have ML and JA, as well as Tyler Honeycutt coming in next year.

Personally, I don’t mind the “one and done” type of prospects because every program plays by the same rules. My father and I tend to argue about this because he’s “old school” and subscribes to the same train of thought as Fox and 66 above. He often waxes nostalgic about how Alcindor, Walton, and Goodrich all earned their degrees, and these modern day players couldn’t hold their gym shorts. I understand his affinity for college life and the importance of earning a degree. I believe it’s the university’s mission to prepare its students for life by setting them on a career path. For regular students that means completing your degree. If I were offered my current position after my freshman year instead of going through 4 years of undergrad and 2 years of B-school, I would be foolish not to jump at the opportunity.

Let’s just enjoy JH as a Bruin while he’s with us. He will decide his own future, and he probably won’t make that decision for a while. He’s a young man, in his first year of college, and he’s having a great time, by the sounds of it. All is, IMHO, as it should be.